[Wii U] Lego City Undercover

[Bullwinkle]

It goes without saying that this is the most anticipated title on the Wii U (mostly because it isn't saying much), but I think it may be my most anticipated title for this Winter/Spring season.  That includes God of War, Bioshock Infinity and Tomb Raider.

Everything I've seen makes me think this is just going to click on all levels.  

Today, Eurogamer published an article called How Lego City Undercover Blows the Franchise Wide Open - and Could Save the Wii U in the Process.  It's a nice read and got me even more excited.

They've really taken their time with it, and are feeling very confident about it, saying "We're obviously really pleased with the game. If it wasn't very good then we'd probably feel under pressure, but it's our best Lego game and that's really saying something. We're really chuffed. It's the best game on the Wii U."

Eurogamer added "There's not much competition for that accolade at the moment, but don't be surprised if that boast still rings true in five years time."

[metallicorphan]

I wish this wasn't a Wii U exclusive as i would love to play this,this game being the only game due out for Wii U that i want to play,the rest i have no interest in whatsoever...unfortunately the days of me buying a console for one game(PS3/MGS4)are long gone

[Bullwinkle]

I might have bought it for this game.  I was looking at the Wii U cabinet at TRU the other day, and there really is nothing that screams to me to get the console.  I like Nintendo Land, Scribblenauts, New Super Mario Bros and Zombie U, but none of them are exciting, really (my daughter may differ on Nintendo Land).

I will say this, which should surprise no one who has seen my comments in the PS4 thread: The only reason there is a Wii U in my house is that it is backwards compatible with the Wii.  That made it an easy decision.  If it was not, I don't think I would even be buying it for Lego City Undercover (though I'd be tempted).  As it is, I'm happy that I have it and can play this game!

[The Grue]

I am definitely IN! and very excited on this one.  Love all the Lego games and this one does look like it moves their formula forward evolutionary-wise.  I think I might even pick up the 3DS game as well.

[Lordnine]

I wish this wasn't a Wii U exclusive as i would love to play this,this game being the only game due out for Wii U that i want to play,the rest i have no interest in whatsoever...unfortunately the days of me buying a console for one game(PS3/MGS4)are long gone

People need to stop wishing for non-exclusives.   For games to actually take advantage of what the WiiU can do they NEED to be built from the ground up for the platform.  If that doesn’t happen there is no reason for the game to be on the WiiU in the first place.

Now if Nintendo pulled a Sega I would be very happy but for this generation at least it is what it is and I want some more good games on the WiiU!

[Scraper]

This game really is what will finally make me get a WiiU. My son (7) is really into Mario, but I couldn't justify the purchase for that alone at this point. Now with Lego City he will at least have two games that I know he will like. He loves Lego Batman, Indiana Jones, etc, so City is a no brainer for him.

[davidrobots]

Guys. Guys. The Wii U finally has a new game coming out.

Our LEGO City Undercover review will go LIVE tomorrow morning at 9 PST.

[Lordnine]

I just saw a couple reviews pop up online as well. 

Eurogamer gave it a 9/10
Edge Magazine gave it a 5/10

I really want a new game on the WiiU but I'm going to need a few more reviews before I make up my mind.  Looking forward to the GT review tomorrow!

[msduncan]

Guys. Guys. The Wii U finally has a new game coming out.

Our LEGO City Undercover review will go LIVE tomorrow morning at 9 PST.

Can you give us a hint?

[EngineNo9]

I just saw a couple reviews pop up online as well. 

Eurogamer gave it a 9/10
Edge Magazine gave it a 5/10

I really want a new game on the WiiU but I'm going to need a few more reviews before I make up my mind.  Looking forward to the GT review tomorrow!

Hmm, scores that broad seems really suspect.  Too bad, as this could have been the game to push me over the edge to getting a Wii U. 

[davidrobots]

Guys. Guys. The Wii U finally has a new game coming out.

Our LEGO City Undercover review will go LIVE tomorrow morning at 9 PST.

Can you give us a hint?

A number between 0-100.

[Reemul]

Well the edge have only reviewed a few lego games and a 6 is their best score, eurogamer have given a couple of 9's.

It seems if you like the lego games this could be their best one yet. I'm definitely in as I just got the Wii U for Lego and Monster Hunter 3.

The only disappointing thing is no multiplayer as I was hoping to play with my son but we will instead have to play separate games.

Really if I want the game unless the reviews are mega low I will pick it up, can always trade it in if its a disaster for Monster Hunter.

[Bullwinkle]

Have to say I trust Eurogamer much more than Edge.

NintendoLife just gave it an 8/10.  They're actually more honest than a dedicated console site usually is.

[CeeKay]

Have to say I trust Eurogamer much more than Edge.

this.  I may wait for a sale though; I've still got Lego Batman 2 and Lord of the Rings waiting to be played.

[Reemul]

Have to say I trust Eurogamer much more than Edge.

this.  I may wait for a sale though; I've still got Lego Batman 2 and Lord of the Rings waiting to be played.

I've finished Lego Batman 2 and my son hates LOTR so we need a new one

[davidrobots]

Thirty more minutes! I'll post the link in here once it goes live, and I'll answer any questions you have on the game.

And it retails for $49.99, ten bucks cheaper than I thought.

[davidrobots]

Here you folks go: http://gamingtrend.com/game_reviews/grand-theft-lego-lego-city-undercover-review/

And I'll be on intermittently to answer any questions you guys might have about the game. I'm supposed to be on vacation, but I'll hop in when I can.

[Reemul]

ooh a good score there, seems to mirror the EG review. Unsure what Edge was smoking though.

[davidrobots]

ooh a good score there, seems to mirror the EG review. Unsure what Edge was smoking though.

They could just hate LEGO games entirely. They're not perfect, by any means. But I was swayed by its charms, and I forgave quite a bit. It does a bunch of stuff so well that the things that it has problems with (and has had problems with ever since the first LEGO game) seemed far less problematic when taking in the whole picture.

[CeeKay]

Unsure what Edge was smoking though.

it sounds like they were reviewing the game against what they were expecting it to be and not reviewing the game for it actually is.

[Lordnine]

I’m fairly convinced I will pick it up now. 

Just a reminder for anyone who purchased the WiiU deluxe edition; a digital copy purchased on the eshop will grant you a $5 eshop credit on your next purchase. 

I have noticed faster load times for games downloaded as opposed to playing off from CDs.  Given that many of the complaints seem to be with load times this might be a good title to try it out with.

[EngineNo9]

Anyone aware of any current deals on the Deluxe Wii U (or packages)?

[Lordnine]

This is probably the best you will find before E3.

Deluxe Console which comes with Nintendo Land
+
ZombiU
Pro-controller  
-----
$390

You save about $50 assuming you wanted ZombiU and a Pro-controller.

[Bullwinkle]

Lego City requires an external hard drive for downloads?

According to Nintendo Everything, there was a note about this in the latest Nintendo Download Report.

[Lordnine]

I have a feeling that is only for people with the basic version.  If the install takes more than 32GB I think they did something wrong....

[davidrobots]

It might have something to do with the way it installs the game. The PS3 has this problem where you have to have twice the amount of room for the file -- space for the actual download, and space for the installation. Maybe it works the same way.

[Teggy]

Nobody buy this so Nintendo will port it to next gen systems

[Bullwinkle]

Eurogamer clarifies a little bit, saying that the game is rumored to be 22GB, which just about fills the 25GB available on the bigger Wii U, which is why some of the comments have been about needing the drive to download any extras or updates.

[Reemul]

Eurogamer clarifies a little bit, saying that the game is rumored to be 22GB, which just about fills the 25GB available on the bigger Wii U, which is why some of the comments have been about needing the drive to download any extras or updates.

Only for the digital version not the disc one. I have a couple of external hdd's didn't realise they could be supported but I'm still going the disc route. 22 gig stream from the disc, could be the reason for slow load times.

[metallicorphan]

Wii U sounds more and more of a complete clusterfuck as weeks go by

[msduncan]

Wii U sounds more and more of a complete clusterfuck as weeks go by

Not sure where you are hearing that.    My family loves the Wii U.   They have sunk countless hours into Mario, Nintendoland, and Skylanders U.    I'm going to buy Lego City for them and that will be another month of playing time.   Best part is that they can play on the controller while I watch TV.

[metallicorphan]

Wii U sounds more and more of a complete clusterfuck as weeks go by

Not sure where you are hearing that.    My family loves the Wii U.   They have sunk countless hours into Mario, Nintendoland, and Skylanders U.    I'm going to buy Lego City for them and that will be another month of playing time.   Best part is that they can play on the controller while I watch TV.

That's good that you are enjoying it,but from launch it just seems a week can't go by when something bad about it gets reported..be it from the start-Massive firmware update that takes hours to dl/install,Battery life ridiculously low for the controllers,less than a hand full of games,3rd party games costing more than the 360/PS3 versions,A lot of 3rd party games not even appearing on the Wii U,Miyamoto coming out this week and saying that(he thinks) the interface performance will be improved this summer,shitty HDD means you need to buy a External HDD-but you still pay £300+ for the sucker

The machine is what?..4 months old?,I am not sure how many games have actually been released up to now,i just know in the last month two games were released for it and one of them was a Wii Shop game


that's just the top of my head(not included this weeks disppointing sale numbers),and TBH it just sounds like the Wii U was rushed to market

Off course,this is all from an outsiders PoV,i have not got a Wii U

[davidrobots]

Wii U sounds more and more of a complete clusterfuck as weeks go by

Not sure where you are hearing that.    My family loves the Wii U.   They have sunk countless hours into Mario, Nintendoland, and Skylanders U.    I'm going to buy Lego City for them and that will be another month of playing time.   Best part is that they can play on the controller while I watch TV.

There is no off-screen play with Lego City. You need the Gamepad and TV to play it.

[Reemul]

Wii U sounds more and more of a complete clusterfuck as weeks go by

Not sure where you are hearing that.    My family loves the Wii U.   They have sunk countless hours into Mario, Nintendoland, and Skylanders U.    I'm going to buy Lego City for them and that will be another month of playing time.   Best part is that they can play on the controller while I watch TV.

That's good that you are enjoying it,but from launch it just seems a week can't go by when something bad about it gets reported..be it from the start-Massive firmware update that takes hours to dl/install,Battery life ridiculously low for the controllers,less than a hand full of games,3rd party games costing more than the 360/PS3 versions,A lot of 3rd party games not even appearing on the Wii U,Miyamoto coming out this week and saying that(he thinks) the interface performance will be improved this summer,shitty HDD means you need to buy a External HDD-but you still pay £300+ for the sucker

The machine is what?..4 months old?,I am not sure how many games have actually been released up to now,i just know in the last month two games were released for it and one of them was a Wii Shop game


that's just the top of my head(not included this weeks disppointing sale numbers),and TBH it just sounds like the Wii U was rushed to market

Off course,this is all from an outsiders PoV,i have not got a Wii U

Well I bought mine 2 weeks ago and it came with updated firmware.

I am happy with mine, Eldest who is 6 loves it and I am looking forward to Monster Hunter and Lego Undercover. It is true there isnt that much more to play at the moment but I have other consoles and the PC to fill in with until other things come out.

There are issues but it's not the end of the world and imo the console has its place and with more First party games it will sit in a certain niche. Price is a bit steep. If it could hit the £199 / $199 price point for the 32gig version that may help, slightly too expensive but that may change by the time PS4 and 720 is out and maybe hitting the 300/400 price point.

I think people who have it enjoy it for what it is and ignore those that slam it but dont have it.

[Lordnine]

Wii U sounds more and more of a complete clusterfuck as weeks go by

I think people who have it enjoy it for what it is and ignore those that slam it but dont have it.

Pretty much this.  The system has its problems but it offers an experience you can’t get elsewhere.   Take ZombiU for instance, it borrows many of the ideas from Dark Souls but the way the controller touch screen interacts with the game is something a person won’t understand unless they experience it themselves.

 The system has a chach-22 problem going for it right now.  It needs more exclusives to sell the system but no developers will sign up to do it because the system isn’t selling that well.  The other problem is because there are so few exclusives people are judging the system based on ports which do little to sell the unique features of the system. 

[EngineNo9]

This is probably the best you will find before E3.

Deluxe Console which comes with Nintendo Land
+
ZombiU
Pro-controller 
-----
$390

You save about $50 assuming you wanted ZombiU and a Pro-controller.

Thanks for the info.  I wasn't too interested in ZombiU and had delayed making a decision until today when I saw that Target had a $50 back when buying a Wii U.  I figured why not and picked on up.  I also have a Target Red Card debit card which gives 5% off all purchases, so I essentially got the Deluxe with a Pro Controller for $330 once you take off the gift card.

Anyway, back on topic I also preordered LEGO City Undercover, so I guess I'm jumping right in.    There were a few low review scores, but none of the text seemed to have real issues other than loading times so it seemed like a good bet.

[Lordnine]

So did anyone pick this up?  I ended up holding off after learning that I wouldn’t be able to download it without an add-on hard drive. 

[Reemul]

So did anyone pick this up?  I ended up holding off after learning that I wouldn’t be able to download it without an add-on hard drive. 

Don't think it's actually out yet, next Tuesday could be US release date and Thurs in Europe/UK due to the Bank Holiday weekend.

[Lordnine]

March 18th was the release date, at-least in the US.  Apparently there is a shipping shortage a lot of places are experiencing though.  Nintendo also priced the eshop version incorrectly on release.  Anyone who purchased on release day is getting a $10 refund.

After doing some digging I did find some comparison people have had between the start-up load times and in game load times.  There is some variance based on the quality of external drive you use but most people experience 15-20 second faster boot up times and 5-8 second faster in game load times when using the downloaded version versus the disk version.  Not exactly a huge difference but it might be enough to sway people towards the download version if you have a HD handy.

[JuniorDan]

So did anyone pick this up?  I ended up holding off after learning that I wouldn’t be able to download it without an add-on hard drive. 

Don't think it's actually out yet, next Tuesday could be US release date and Thurs in Europe/UK due to the Bank Holiday weekend.

Just picked it up at BestBuy.