Honestly, if you’ve spent any real time chasing down Rex Fury, you know that LEGO City is a chaotic mess of plastic bricks and car chases. But then you hit LEGO City Undercover Paradise Sands, and everything just... slows down. It’s that massive stretch of beach on the eastern side of the map that feels less like a crime-ridden metropolis and more like a digital vacation. Most people just drive through it on their way to the next mission. They’re missing out.
Paradise Sands is basically the Miami Beach of the LEGO world. It’s got the luxury hotels, the observation tower, the endless sand, and those weirdly specific LEGO palm trees that look like they’d hurt if you stepped on them. It’s a hub for some of the best collectibles in the game, but it also serves as a masterclass in open-world environmental design for a game that was originally a Wii U exclusive.
The Layout of the Beach
The area is dominated by the Herbert Hotel. It’s huge. It’s blue. It’s got a swimming pool that serves absolutely no gameplay purpose other than looking cool, which is exactly why it’s great. Right next to it, you’ve got the beach itself. It isn’t just a flat texture; it’s packed with stuff to break. You’ll find sandcastles, beach chairs, and those classic LEGO umbrellas.
The vibe here is intentionally different from the industrial grit of Pagoda or the high-rise intensity of Festival Square. It’s open. You can actually see the horizon. When you’re playing as Chase McCain, usually you're cramped in narrow streets, but here, you have room to breathe—and room to drive some of the faster sports cars you’ve unlocked.
Why the Observation Tower is a Pain (and a Reward)
One of the most iconic landmarks in LEGO City Undercover Paradise Sands is the Observation Tower. It sticks out like a sore thumb. If you’re a completionist, this tower is your best friend and your worst enemy. It’s one of the primary spots for a District Conqueror challenge.
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Getting to the top requires a mix of the Astronaut and Farmer disguises. You have to use the teleporters, then hover, then climb. It’s one of those vertical puzzles that TT Games does so well. Once you’re at the peak, the view is genuinely impressive. You can see almost the entire coastline, from the docks all the way up toward the forest. It’s also where you’ll usually find a Silver Statue to blow up or a flag to plant.
Secrets Most Players Walk Right Past
You’d be surprised how many people forget the party area. Down on the sand, there’s a localized "party" happening with a DJ booth and speakers. If you fix the juice bar or the speakers, the NPCs actually start dancing. It’s a small touch, but it adds that "lived-in" feeling that modern open worlds try so hard to replicate.
Then there’s the matter of the Super Bricks. Paradise Sands is a goldmine for them. If you’re trying to build the large Super Builds—like the loop-de-loop stunt ramp or the Ferris wheel nearby—you need thousands of bricks. The beach is littered with small objects that drop x100 and x1000 bricks.
- The sandcastles are hidden sources of studs.
- The pier has fishing spots for the Fisherman disguise.
- The palm trees often hide birds for the "Bird Sanctuary" challenge.
The Vehicle Spawn Points
Let’s talk cars. If you want to test out a new ride, Paradise Sands is the place. Because the roads are wide and follow the curve of the bay, you can actually hit top speed without slamming into a plastic fire hydrant every five seconds. There’s a vehicle call-in point right near the hotel.
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I usually spawn the "Rex’s Riot" or something equally bulky here just to see how it handles on the sand. Physics in LEGO City Undercover are... let’s call them "floaty." Driving on the beach feels different than driving on the asphalt, though only slightly. It’s more about the aesthetic of drifting around a beach umbrella while the synth-heavy 70s cop show music blares in the background.
Dealing with the "Collect-a-thon" Burnout
We have to be real: LEGO games can get tedious. By the time you’re at 80% completion, hunting for that one last Gold Brick in LEGO City Undercover Paradise Sands can feel like a chore. The game doesn't always make it obvious where the "hidden" items are.
For example, there’s a cat rescue mission tucked away on one of the balconies of the resort buildings. If you aren’t looking up, you’ll never find it. The same goes for the coffee breaks. These little side activities are spread out in a way that forces you to park your car and actually walk the boardwalk.
The Technical Side of the Sand
When the game first launched on Wii U, Paradise Sands was a bit of a frame-rate nightmare. All that shimmering water and the draw distance of the hotels put a lot of strain on the hardware. On the Remastered versions (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC), it’s much smoother. The lighting is the big upgrade. The way the "sun" reflects off the water in the bay makes the area look much less like a toy set and more like a stylized world.
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The sound design here changes too. The traffic noise of the city center fades out. You get the sound of waves—very blocky, plastic waves—and the ambient chatter of tourists. It’s a distinct audio zone that helps separate the "work" of the main story from the "play" of the sandbox.
Missing Features?
If there’s one gripe, it’s that the water is a death trap. Chase McCain can swim, sure, but there’s nothing out there. No hidden underwater caves, no LEGO sharks (unless you count the ones that eat you if you go too far), and no boat races that really utilize the coast properly. It feels like a bit of a missed opportunity for a game that’s otherwise so dense.
How to Maximize Your Time in Paradise Sands
To really "beat" this district, you need to come back after you’ve finished the main story. You need every disguise. Specifically, the Fireman (for those pesky BBQ fires) and the Construction Worker (for the pneumatic drills).
- Start at the Hotel: Clear the roof first. There’s usually a Cat Rescue or a Coffee Break up there.
- Hit the Pier: Use the Robber disguise to open the lockers and the Astronaut for the crates.
- The Sand Sweep: Run the length of the beach. Don't drive. You'll miss the small "boulders" and sandcastles that hold the hidden Gold Bricks.
- The Super Build: Save your bricks for the stunt ramp. It’s one of the most fun Super Builds in the game because it actually changes how you navigate the area.
LEGO City Undercover Paradise Sands isn't just a filler zone. It’s the visual soul of the game’s "California" inspiration. It bridges the gap between the urban sprawl and the suburbs. If you’re just rushing through it to get to the next waypoint, you’re playing it wrong. Slow down, break some umbrellas, and enjoy the brick-built sunshine.
Actionable Next Steps for Completionists
Go to your map and check the district percentage for Paradise Sands. If you're under 90%, you've likely missed the "Disguise Booth" hidden near the rear of the hotel structures or the "Pig Return" cannon that’s often tucked away in a corner of the beach park. Equip the "Super Color Gun" cheat if you're tired of hunting for color swappers, and do a final sweep of the rooftops. Most of the verticality in this zone is hidden behind blue-and-white climbing walls that are easy to miss if you stay on the road.