Of course, familiar LEGO mechanics such as unlimited lives, basic puzzles often solved by constructing a nearby object and straightforward combat return, too.
There's a storyline to follow, but you can also stomp around at will, snatching up LEGO studs, bricks that scatter whenever you smash things – used to build landmarks, jump ramps and vehicle call-in points – and discs that allow you to purchase new costumes and vehicles. This prequel is set in much the same style as its console big brother – it's a departure from the usual licensed LEGO titles, an original story set in an open world city that's yours to explore. Which, naturally, requires him to dress up in a variety of disguises that each offer different skillsets. In The Chase Begins, McCain arrives in LEGO City, shiny new police badge in hand, and is promptly thrown into the investigation of a city-wide crime syndicate. Despite his lower rank, from the outset he's about as skilled as he is two years later, freerunning and fighting talents in tact, and debatably he grows more over the course of his Wii U adventure than he ever does on 3DS. The strange thing is, Chase doesn't actually start out as green as you might think. LEGO City Undercover: The Chase Begins, however, is an oddly timed tale of this ilk: we only just got to know Chase McCain a month ago in Wii U's LEGO City Undercover, but already we have a prequel that takes us back two years in McCain's life to show how the hotshot cop rose from rookie to regular action hero. We all love a good origin story, right? It's an opportunity to delve further into the inner workings of a character, to learn what they're all about and how they became the hero that we know and love.