Honestly, if you missed out on PlayStation 4 Lego City Undercover, you've basically ignored the "Grand Theft Auto" of the brick world, minus the hookers and the nihilism. It is a weirdly special game. Most Lego titles are tied to massive movie franchises like Star Wars or Marvel, which is fine, but they often feel like they're coloring inside the lines of someone else's playground. Lego City is different. It's an original story that feels like a love letter to every 1970s cop show and 80s action flick you’ve ever seen.
It’s huge.
When TT Games originally launched this as a Wii U exclusive, it was a tragedy because nobody owned a Wii U. But the 2017 port to the PlayStation 4 changed the game, literally. It added local co-op, which the original was missing for some baffling reason, and it cleaned up the load times that used to be long enough to go make a sandwich. If you’re looking for a game that manages to be genuinely funny for adults while staying perfectly safe for an eight-year-old, this is the one.
The Open World of Lego City Undercover is Massive
You play as Chase McCain. He’s a legendary cop who returns to the city to take down his arch-nemesis, Rex Fury. Simple enough, right? But the real star isn't Chase; it's the city itself. It’s a sprawling metropolis that blends bits of San Francisco, New York, and Seattle into one giant brick-built sandbox.
You can drive over 100 different vehicles. From high-speed sports cars to clunky tractors and even lawnmowers, the variety is staggering. The handling is arcadey and loose, which is exactly what you want when you're jumping off ramps in a Lego ambulance. Unlike the later Lego games that rely heavily on flying characters to get around, PlayStation 4 Lego City Undercover forces you to actually engage with the streets. You feel the scale of the world when you're driving across the Heritage Bridge or exploring the winding paths of Bluebell National Park.
There are 20 different districts. Each one has its own vibe. One minute you're in the bright lights of Bright Lights Plaza (creative name, I know), and the next you’re exploring an Egyptian-themed amusement park or a high-security prison on Albatross Island. It’s dense. It’s colorful. It’s packed with 450 Gold Bricks to collect, which is a ridiculous number that will keep completionists busy for months.
The Disguise System is Better Than Class Systems
Most RPGs give you a class. Lego City gives you a wardrobe.
Chase McCain can swap between eight different disguises on the fly, and each one unlocks a specific set of abilities. The Police disguise lets you use a grappling hook and a scanner to find hidden items. The Robber outfit allows you to crack safes and use a crowbar. Then there’s the Firefighter, the Astronaut (who gets a jetpack!), the Farmer, and the Construction Worker.
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It creates a "Metroidvania" style of gameplay where you see a chest or a door early in the game but can't open it until you unlock a specific costume five hours later. It’s a clever way to encourage backtracking without making it feel like a chore. Plus, watching Chase do a quick-change animation in the middle of a street is never not funny.
Why This Game is Secretly For Adults
The humor in PlayStation 4 Lego City Undercover is top-tier. I’m serious. It’s written with a dry, satirical wit that most kids will completely miss. There are direct parodies of The Shawshank Redemption, Goodfellas, The Matrix, and even Starsky & Hutch.
One of the main characters, Frank Honey, is an absolute moron in the most endearing way possible. His dialogue is a masterclass in comedic timing. The game doesn't take itself seriously for even a second. While "Grand Theft Auto" tries to be a gritty satire of the American Dream, Lego City is a joyful satire of the "Hero Cop" trope. It pokes fun at the absurdity of a police officer destroying half the city’s infrastructure just to catch one guy who stole a sandwich.
And the voice acting? Surprisingly great. Joseph May (who voiced Thomas the Tank Engine, believe it or not) brings a perfect "earnest but slightly dim" quality to Chase McCain. The chemistry between the cast makes the cutscenes worth watching instead of skipping, which is a rare feat in family gaming.
Technical Performance on PS4
Let’s talk shop. The PS4 version is objectively the best way to play this game, even with the PS5 being out. On a base PS4, it runs at a fairly steady 30 frames per second, but on the Pro (or PS5 via backwards compatibility), it feels much smoother.
The most important upgrade over the Nintendo versions is the resolution and lighting. The bricks actually look like plastic. You can see the little "LEGO" logo on the studs of the floor. The reflections on the car hoods and the way the city lights up at night make it one of the best-looking Lego games ever made.
But it’s not perfect.
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Even on the PlayStation 4, Lego City Undercover can suffer from some frame rate dips when things get chaotic. If you’re playing split-screen co-op—which is a blast, by the way—the console has to work twice as hard to render two different parts of the city. You’ll see some pop-in. Trees and cars will suddenly appear out of nowhere. It’s not game-breaking, but it’s a reminder that this engine was originally built for much weaker hardware.
Combat and Puzzles
The combat is simple. You press one button to strike and another to counter. It’s basically "Arkham Asylum" Lite. You don't "kill" enemies; you arrest them. You have to slap handcuffs on them while they’re dazed, which leads to some frantic moments when you're fighting five guys at once.
The puzzles are where the game shines. They usually involve "Super Builds." These are massive Lego structures like ferris wheels, bridges, or helipads that require "Super Bricks" to construct. You find these by smashing everything in sight. There is a primal satisfaction in breaking a Lego park bench into a hundred pieces and then vacuuming up the parts.
The Realism of the Lego World
One thing people get wrong about this game is thinking it’s just for kids. It’s a legitimate open-world experience. The AI of the citizens is surprisingly complex. They react to your sirens. They scream when you drive on the sidewalk. They have little conversations with each other that you can overhear if you stop running for five seconds.
The game also features a fully functional "Wanted" system. If you start causing too much mayhem, the police (who are technically your coworkers, which makes no sense) will start chasing you. It adds a layer of tension to the exploration that other Lego games lack.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Playthrough
If you’re jumping into PlayStation 4 Lego City Undercover for the first time, don't rush the main story. You’ll be tempted to fly through the 15 special assignments, but the real magic is in the side content.
- Find the Data Scans: These reveal the locations of hidden collectibles in each district. It makes the hunt for 100% completion much less frustrating.
- Prioritize the Astronaut: Get the jetpack as soon as possible. It changes how you navigate the rooftops and makes finding those pesky Gold Bricks way easier.
- Listen to the NPCs: Seriously. The background dialogue is some of the funniest writing in gaming history.
- Use the Co-op: Playing with a friend or a kid makes the Super Build grinding much faster. Plus, you can have demolition derbies in the middle of the city.
One thing to keep in mind: the game is long. If you just play the story, you're looking at about 15 hours. If you want that Platinum Trophy? You’re looking at 40 to 50 hours. It’s a massive time investment, but because the tone is so breezy, it never feels like a slog.
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Common Misconceptions
People think this is just a "Lego GTA." That's a lazy comparison. It’s more like a Lego version of The Naked Gun. It’s slapstick. It’s pun-heavy. It also has a lot more heart than your average open-world game. There’s no cynicism here.
Another misconception is that the PS4 version is just a "lazy port." While TT Games didn't rebuild it from the ground up, the addition of the second player and the removal of the Wii U GamePad requirements (which were annoying) make it the definitive version. They mapped the map and scanner functions to the DualShock 4 beautifully.
Final Practical Steps for New Players
If you’re ready to clean up the streets of Lego City, here is how you should handle your first few hours to avoid getting overwhelmed.
Start by unlocking the first four disguises. Don't spend too much time hunting collectibles until you have the Police, Robber, Miner, and Farmer outfits. You'll just frustrate yourself by finding things you can't interact with yet.
Collect every Super Brick you see. These are the large, glowing bricks. You need thousands of them for the late-game Super Builds. If you see a sparkling object, smash it.
Check the PlayStation Store for sales. This game goes on sale constantly. You can often pick it up for under $10, which is an insane amount of content for the price of a fast-food meal.
Don't ignore the Red Bricks. These are the "cheats." They can give you stud multipliers, which make buying new cars and characters way easier. Find the "Studs x2" brick as early as you can. It’s hidden in the city, and it will save you hours of grinding.
PlayStation 4 Lego City Undercover is a rare gem. It’s a game that respects your time, makes you laugh, and provides a genuine sense of discovery. Whether you’re a parent looking for something to play with your kid or a solo gamer who just wants a break from the ultra-serious "prestige" games of the current era, Lego City is a perfect getaway. It’s plastic, it’s fantastic, and it’s still one of the best open-world experiences on the console.
Go find Rex Fury. The city isn't going to save itself.