Video: Let's See How LEGO City: Undercover on Switch Stacks Up Against the Wii U Original

Why does the Switch version look so dark?

Interesting differences. Higher resolution (when docked, I assume) but a few choice textures are lower res. Or maybe it's just that one police department sign in the beginning that looks particularly scaled back.

Lighting and shading seems a little more lush, but at the same time some scenes have a really dark feel, suggesting the port has not been supervised by the original art team, who always serve that bright upbeat LEGO feel.

I'm in love with the idea of giving the player a minibuild to study during the load times, that's something LEGO fans are sure to appreciate.

I had originally considered double dipping, especially with a smoother performance and higher resolution (loading times a minor issue for me), and fired up the Wii U version yesterday to find out if I would still enjoy it after 100%ing back then. I found that the Gampead was used very well in this game. Now I'm not certain if the lack of this wouldn't put me off too much... I now, first-world problems.

@Zach777
I noticed that, too, but then I took a closer look: It's probably because the new version has a more comprehensive lighting system and something that looks like SSAO. While in the Wii U version many things look equally bright from all directions, which is unnatural, objects now apparently look darker where there is less light. That's my theory anyway.

@Pod
I agree, the minibuild exploration makes the loading times a bit more tolerable. Now, if it wasn't for the missing Gampad... Well, I just might pick it up in another few years when it's cheaper. Might have forgotten more of it by then, too (it felt VERY familiar when I started it up on Wii U again last night to see if it would be worth it)...

The colours look much brighter and clearer on the wiiu version? Weird.

Sorry just seen all the comments above mine but as a comparison it still seems strange....

I think the switch version looks better. The switch version also looks more colorful. Looks kinda satured.

Still i wouldnt buy this game a second time for better graphics. But i definetely recommend this game. I had fun.

The Wii U version looks a bit Blueish while Switch version looks a bit Reddish.
I noticed from when Chase at Harbour.

Don't know why I enjoyed that tagline so much.

Never got the Wii U iteration, but I might grab this when the price is slightly more reasonable. Co-op play is surely too much to turn down!

The Switch version definitely looks better in person. It's using better textures as well in many instances, the lighting system has also been overhauled. Frame rate is a different story though. If they can tweak the frame rate a bit, this will be a very good version.

I think the Switch version definitely looks better if you look at some of the buildings in the beginning of video you can see more details as well the surfaces look better on the Switch version and the colors definitely look better the blue and black are very noticeably better in the Switch version however if you owned this game on Wii U I can't see what would be the point of purchasing it again especially seeing that it is priced way way way too high I mean 60.00 dollars for a five year old game with no new content , I will pass. Now bring on Lego Worlds .

@Romeo-75
Actually there are some new disguises, including old Chase McCain police outfits that you have to unlock. Check on Youtube.

There's a few spots where the Switch uses lower-res textures, but I think the majority of them are either the same resolution, or higher. It is a bit dark in numerous areas

One thing that's really giving me issues is on Switch, the mouth textures are producing some Z-fighting amongst themselves. Look at face close-ups. You'll see it in the first cutscene with Honey. There is also unusual shadow casting from face textures, something not done on the Wii U.

Overall, the Switch version is better, but has various issues that put me off from getting it at the current MSRP (or even Prime discount).

I bought it, and have played like, 15 minutes. It looks and feels good, but has some stuttering in the framerate. I remember the Wii U version doing the same. This does have the co op and a few added features, but i don't feel like any of them are enough to recommend going out and getting it if you still have the Wii U version.

Myself, on the otherhand, sold the game back a long time ago, and i now have a son. I feel like I'll be getting my value out of a second purchase.

@AlternateButtons uhm. I have both versions and Wii u doesn't even touch the switch version.
Switch has better lighting, full rbg, better and more texture, longer draw distance, anti-aliasing and the background​ isn't blurry like the Wii u version.

If it's not broken in some way, it's not a LEGO game

Game is super fun and plays fairly well on my Switch fps is pretty bad though ranging from what seems like 15 fps to the rare 30fps

Why does the Switch version appear to have purposefully added motion blurring when you're driving? Starting around 10:20 in the video, you can see it's pretty obvious.

Okay, so I watched the whole comparison video and I own both copies of the game. Normally I don't comment on these videos because you're not watching each game in their native resolution. Other than the odd issue with the police department sign and dark characters in the police department, Id say that pretty much every thing else looks better on the Switch. Everything looks crisper and at a better contrast as the Wii U version looks far more washed out. Outside definitely looks far better on the Switch. We loved the one on Wii U and I purchased this one mainly for the two player option...which we haven't had a chance to try out yet. Make sure that you download the update to the game. My copy came in today and I played it some and noticed that it hadn't updated, so I manually updated it. btw...I just went back and started a new game after I updated and the police sign no longer looks horrible...

NOTE: If you haven't already done so, manually update your game on Switch if it didn't auto update. It fixes some of the issues from the video above. I received my game today and played it a bit. I noticed that it didn't update, so I manually updated and started it again. The police sign and brightness in the police station look better now.

@Nintendo_Alski Brighter does not equal better. The object edges and definition are much more refined on the Switch version. I also imagine the new lighting system and full RGB color range has something to do with the difference in colors. The Wii U one looks fuzzy in comparison.

Really don't understand how from watching the video how anyone can say the Wii U version looks better.

It's a Lego game so it's not exactly going to look great no matter what you're playing it on. Not to mention there are far better games coming out this month so I'll be giving this a miss

@neufel Well it's LEGO, they could always rebuild it

Who cares, they're frickin' Legos. What's a facelift going to do, make them shinier?

Why waste time dolling up games for Nintendo gamers. They don't care about graphics.

Just sell them the same game ten times. Easy money.

Many that already bought the exact same games on the WiiU will also buy them again on the Switch. Then there are the newcomers and returners who gave the WiiU a miss now buying the games for the first time. Win win.

All developers should port their old WiiU games to the Switch.

@Amsterdamsters What about face texture shadow casting and mouth texture Z-fighting? Are those present after the update?

Well I guess they are hoping those who did not buy it first time round will consider it now, since games are scarce. But the price they are asking for it will be the reason most Switch owners who have played it will give it a big miss until it arrives in the bargain bucked next year.

It's a good game if you haven't played it. If you've played it already it's a expensive buy

Just to note, for what differences the game on Switch has from the Wii U version (for better or for worse), it is also close to 1/3 in game size by comparison, which is good for anyone who wants to go digital.

Switch version sold out on Amazon UK

@ThomasBW84

Good to hear that it looks better in some instances! I'm picking this up solely for the multiplayer aspect. Looking forward to your review.

@Discostew Makes me wonder what on earth they did on the WiiU that took MORE space for lower res textures?

@NEStalgia My theory is duplicated data. They certainly had the space on a Wii U disc to do that if with all unique data would tally to 7.1GB. Duplicated data for a disc is beneficial because they could set up long load sessions (like the city) in such a way where the disc would practically stream from one point to another. Wii U's disc drive could only handle about 21MB/s when actually reading, but that doesn't take into account access time. Read jumps to different data points causes an access time delay, and discs are very bad with that because the read head has to physically adjust to wherever the next point is. It's probably "the" reason Sony and MS went with mandatory installs to HDDs. So, to duplicate data so it streams instead of jumping around, it reduced load times. If they kept it at 7.1GB on Wii U and made the read head jump around, you'd probably end up with double the load time.

With Switch and the flash medium with internal storage, microSD or carts, access time isn't an issue. Plus the flash medium is already faster than Wii U's disc drive read speed, so overall faster load times.

The Wii U version is more than adequate. If you have the Wii U version then you really shouldn't be giving them €60 for the Switch port.

As others have mentioned, the Switch version actually looks worse. I'm glad I 100% completed the WiiU version as I don;t even have to think about getting the Switch version now. And those load times? LOL

Honestly, they look practically identical. I own the game for both systems and I can barely tell any difference even when it side-by-side.

Nobody's buying this game for better graphics- people are buying the game because it's the first and only handheld version ever released, and because it's also a console version and because the two can be played while seamlessly switching with the same save file.

Let's not dance around the real appeal of the game here. It's why the game could even look worse and people would still buy it. Getting console games on a handheld and console together without needing save transfer tools and seamless switching is probably the biggest reason anybody has ever had to re-purchase a game. On other consoles, its graphics. On Switch, it's handheld + console version in one with seamless switching using the same save file. Either way, people always come back to a game they loved.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE
Yeah, I have the Wii U version.
But I want Switch version too.
Just let me buy another one for $60.
I don't mind to pay again for the game that I can play it anywhere.

@UK-Nintendo
I know $60 is expensive.
But the game is not 100% copy paste from Wii U. There are some changes, from Chase default outfit, Nintendo reference whether still included or removed from the remastered version, Hexagon design for U/I, New character disguises, Co-Op play, etc.
I'm ready to double dip this title and play it on the go. Maybe I need to configure the Switch brightness first.

@ThomasBW84 i've told you this in another comment before, but RGB full/limited has almost nothing to do with how the image looks. if everything is set up correctly (both tv and console are set to rgb full or limited) then you need extremely good eyes to see any difference

I got this for £30, so I can't complain. Looks like a good enough port with some new co-op fun included and it's fully on the go.

biggest thing is the weird colors:

like the donuts at the first scene. the Wii U donuts look like chocolate. The Switch donuts look like..... smog? why?

@AlternateButtons you need to have a better look then because even in this video you can see that it is sharper, more detail, has revamped lighting system were there are actual shadows and not baked ones. The Wii u one had horrible shimmering and artifacts and zero anti-aliasing and baked in lighting. Not to mention you are watching it through a YouTube's compression.
I have both games and I can't even look at the Wii u one cause it IS THAT much uglier.
Go find someone who has it and make a real comparison.
Here's what I think is a better comparison video.
https://youtu.be/keVl0gundvY

@JaxonH that's funny cause I too own both and I can't agree with you.

@Davidiam007
What, that they pretty much look the same?

Um... ok.

Not sure what's funny about that but... Disagree away

So buy this on Wii U if at all, got it. Warner Brothers is at again with their shoddy ports.

@JaxonH I say that because the Wii u version in real life is blurry, with lots of shimmering artifacts, muddy texture, baked lighting and no anti-aliasing.
The switch version is close to the PS4 version.
They are the same game, but the quality is not the same.
This guy's comparison is much better.
https://youtu.be/keVl0gundvY

@Hotfusion Kind of like all the Sony boys who bought TLoU on PS3 and then turned right around and bought it again on PS4?

@36kobashi100 It's sold out and a seller is trying to sell it for £80.00!

My copy is in the post.... from Amazon. Can't wait.

@Discostew It doesn't look like those issues have been fixed yet.

Its cause the switch has real time lighting and shadows. The textures seem fine to me just different lighting. It's looks so much better scene in actual live comparison then a video.
Don't get me wrong I absolutely love my Wii u and that version as well, but if you have the switch I highly recommend getting the game or at least when it's on sale get it cause it's such a charm to play through it again.

I went with PS4 version on this one. Runs fast, bright and colorful.

If you want to see when the switch version really stands out as better looking than the Wii U version, just pause it at 9:19. Atleast that's where I saw the difference.

Just got this game this morning and can't see any problems whatsoever with loading times. Excellent game.

Got this a couple days ago and have been enjoying it very much. I played the Wii U version and got this because of multiplayer. The nly thing wrong is you need to buy more joycons to play 2 player

Looks like Lego to me, what else is there to say?

For those who did not played Wii U version.

@AlternateButtons The Switch version is 13GB, wasn't the original Wii U version like 25GB....

@ThomasBW84 Full RGB colour does not matter other than a video comparison.

Once you adjust your TV settings there is no difference between limited or full RGB.

@Alex0714 Yeah. Deadly, for one second the Switch version looks better - for the rest of them the Wii U does.

Switch win LMAO.

@Discostew Duplicated data is logical (and assumed) for the disc. But for the download version, if they just took an image dump of the redundant disc, that's lazy on a whole new level

@Davidiam007 720P with no AA is blurry?

LMFAO!!!!!!!

@liveswired im not quite sure I understand your reply.
The texture and background is a bit blurry on Wii u. I know this because I have both.
I never mentioned resolution and I pointed out that there is no AA and that there is shimmering/artifacts.
Here's a better comparison.
https://youtu.be/keVl0gundvY

Wow. Wii U is way better.

Cheap port maybe?

@liveswired If the Wii U looked better according to you, then it's a switch fail not a win. To me the switch looked much better and loads quicker so it's better. But if you like the way the WiiU looked then that's fine.

@NEStalgia Devs don't generally make such drastic changes to a game on a platform because it could be physic or digital.

"The colours look much brighter and clearer on the wiiu version? Weird"

Same with Zelda.

@electrolite77
No. I am saying it matters MORE to Nintendo gamers who have no huge third party support.

Common sense dictates this. There are FAR more established developers on the other consoles giving gamers far more games and choice.

Where are the AA and AAA third party games on the Switch or any Nintendo console?

If all you care about are indie games, fine. Last I check they indie games don't sell consoles.

If you can't see this let's leave it there.

@electrolite77
You seriously need to learn how to read. I am not deliberately trying to be disrespectful to you but you seem not to be able to grasp simple English.

Where did I say it was EXCLUSIVE to Nintendo? I said it matters MORE to Nintendo.

Forget it. I can't be bothered anymore. Whatever.

@Alex0714 Yeah you're right...I was on the wind up that day!!!!