You’ve finally made it across the Heritage Bridge or through the tunnel from Pagoda, and suddenly, everything changes. The music shifts. The neon kicks in. Honestly, LEGO City Undercover Bright Lights Plaza is probably the most visually jarring—in a good way—district in the entire game. It’s the Times Square of LEGO City, a chaotic, shimmering intersection of parodies and collectibles that makes the rest of the map feel like a quiet suburb.
If you’re hunting for that 100% completion mark, you’re going to spend a massive chunk of time here. It's dense. While some areas like Bluebell National Park are wide open and easy to scan, Bright Lights Plaza hides things in the verticality of its skyscrapers and the recessed corners of its shopping strips.
Most people just drive through it on their way to a mission. That’s a mistake.
The Times Square Vibe and Why It Works
TT Games really leaned into the "City that Never Sleeps" trope here. You have the massive digital billboards, the fake Broadway theaters, and the constant hum of traffic. It feels alive. In a game released back on the Wii U—and later remastered for modern consoles—this area was a technical stress test. You can see why. The reflections on the street during the rain or at night give it a depth that makes the "plastic" world feel remarkably real.
The district is bordered by Crescent Cove and Pagoda. It serves as the central commercial hub. You’ll find the Disco Sign, the massive toy store, and the theater district. It’s basically a love letter to 1980s and 90s action cinema tropes. You expect a high-speed chase to break out at any second because, well, in this game, it usually does.
The Big Builds You Can't Miss
You can't talk about Bright Lights Plaza without mentioning the Super Builds. These aren't just for show; they are functional.
The most iconic one is the Stunt Ramp. If you want to get those high-altitude Character Tokens or Gold Bricks, you need to shell out the 100,000 bricks to build it. It’s located right in the center of the main thoroughfare. Once it's up, grabbing a fast vehicle like the Rex's Riot or the Chan’s Drakon and hitting that ramp is a rite of passage.
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Then there’s the Emergency Blunder. It’s a classic LEGO City joke, but building it contributes to your district completion. Every time you spend those hard-earned bricks on a Super Build in this area, you feel the district "unlocking" a little more. It becomes less of a backdrop and more of a playground.
Finding the Hidden Gems
Let’s talk about the collectibles because that’s why you’re actually here. Bright Lights Plaza is notorious for having things tucked away on rooftops that require specific disguises. You’re going to need the Farmer for the chicken glide, the Astronaut for the teleporters, and the Fireman for those annoying BBQ fires.
One of the trickiest Gold Bricks involves the coffee shops. There are multiple "Coffee Breaks" in this district. You find the little table, sit down, and Chase McCain takes a beat to enjoy a drink. It seems simple, but missing just one will keep you at 99.9% forever. Check the alcoves near the theaters. People always miss the one tucked behind the pillar near the mall entrance.
The Arcade and the Disco
There is a specific joy in the interactivity here. You have the "Disguise Booth" near the center, but the real star is the Disco.
If you head to the roof of the building with the giant records on it, you can trigger a dance sequence. It’s classic TT Games humor. Chase starts busting moves, the music kicks in, and you get a Gold Brick for your trouble. It’s these small, personality-driven moments that make Bright Lights Plaza stand out from the more "serious" areas like the Police Station or the Apollo Island Space Center.
Also, look for the Red Brick. In this zone, the Red Brick is a game-changer. Usually, these bricks unlock cheats or multipliers. The one hidden here—often requiring the Astronaut's jetpack or a very precise series of jumps across the neon signs—is worth the twenty minutes of frustration it might take to parkour your way up there.
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Why Everyone Gets the Parkour Wrong
I’ve seen so many players get frustrated with the rooftop navigation in Bright Lights Plaza. They try to jump from the street level. You can't do that.
The secret to mastering this district is finding the "start" of the line. Usually, there’s a blue-and-white climbing wall or a pipe tucked in an alleyway near the border of Pagoda. Once you get on the roof, don't come down. The designers built a literal highway of vents, tightropes, and poles that link the buildings together.
If you fall, don't just run back to where you were. Look up. There’s almost always a teleporter or a catapult nearby to get you back into the action. It’s a vertical puzzle. If you treat it like a 2D map, you’ll lose your mind.
Real-World Inspirations and Easter Eggs
LEGO City Undercover is famous for its movie references, and Bright Lights Plaza is the epicenter. You’ll see nods to The Lion King on the theater marquees (the LEGO version, obviously). There are references to Arnold Schwarzenegger films. The "Jenny" statue is a direct poke at high-end fashion advertising.
The developers at TT Games clearly had a blast with the signage. If you stop and actually read the billboards, you'll find puns about LEGO pieces, "blocky" lifestyle choices, and jokes about the game's own mechanics. It’s meta-humor at its finest.
The Importance of the Driller Disguise
You’re going to spend a lot of time as a Miner here. There are several spots where you have to break through the pavement to reach underground sections or trigger water sprouts to reach higher levels.
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Specifically, look for the silver LEGO objects. You’ll need the Robber disguise with the ray gun or a specific explosive to break these. There’s a fountain area that hides a Character Token under a silver statue. Most people run past it because it doesn’t "look" like a puzzle. Trust me, if it’s silver and in Bright Lights Plaza, it needs to be blown up.
Navigation Tips for Perfectionists
If you are going for the 100% completion, follow this flow:
- Unlock the Train Station first. It makes travel a breeze.
- Finish the Main Story. Don't try to get everything on your first visit. You literally can't because you won't have the Rex Fury strength or the high-tier Astronaut gear.
- Use the Helipad. There’s a helipad in the district. Use it to spawn a helicopter and fly to the very top of the tallest skyscraper. Often, there’s a Free Run start point or a Cat Rescue up there that you can’t see from the ground.
- Listen for the "Sparkle." The sound design in this game is a huge hint. If you hear a shimmering sound, a collectible is nearby, likely hidden behind a destructible wall or on a balcony right above your head.
Bright Lights Plaza isn't just a level. It’s the heart of the game’s aesthetic. It’s loud, it’s bright, and it’s arguably the most "LEGO" part of the city because of how much it relies on your ability to see the world as a series of interlocking parts.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Playthrough
To efficiently clear Bright Lights Plaza, stop wandering aimlessly. Start at the Pagoda border and work your way toward the waterfront in a serpentine pattern.
First, hit the street level and smash every ATM, phone booth, and trash can. This clears the "Districts Objects" count. Second, grab a vehicle and hit the Super Build ramp to trigger the mid-air collectibles. Third, find the "ascent point" (the climbing wall) and stay on the roofs until you’ve traversed the entire loop back to the start.
If you’re still missing a Gold Brick, check the "Alien Capture" or "Gang arrested" missions specific to this zone. They often trigger only when you walk into a very specific, nondescript alleyway near the toy store. Once you hear that whistle, you know you’ve found the last bit of trouble to fix.
Go get that 100%. The view from the top of the Plaza at night is worth the climb.