To achieve 'The Special' in a level you need to collect a certain amount of studs. For the most part you cannot get these in Story so Free Play is you mode.
There are score multiplier red bricks scattered around the hub worlds for 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10x which combine make x3840 which will give you The Special with the first stud! though a solitary 2x or even a 2 and 4x will make this easily possible.
For the locations of each red brick see this
fantastic guide by
Adelfos Eris -
Solution for Welcome To Bricksburg In The LEGO Movie VideogameThere are 15 levels and here is the locations of their start points:
1)
Bricksburg Construction - Bricksburg - To the left of the construction entrance.
2)
Escape from Bricksburg - Bricksburg - Found at the top of the Police Station to the right of the Construction Yard.
3)
Flatbush Gulch - Bricksburg - To the right of the police station in the alleyway.
4)
Flatbush Rooftops - Old West - In the center of the level.
5)
Escape from Flatbush - Old West - In front of the train in the back right, behind the graveyard.
6)
Welcome to Cloud Cuckoo Land - Old West - In the graveyard on the right side.
7)
Attack on Cloud Cuckoo Land - Cloud Cuckoo Land - Straight down from the portal.
8)
Escape from Cloud Cuckoo Land - Cloud Cuckoo Land - On the island on the right.
9)
The Depths - Cloud Cuckoo Land - From the portal, on the first island on the right has a bridge you can go down to a new area, in the new area on the far side.
10)
Infiltrate Octan Tower - Cloud Cuckoo Land - From the portal, on the first island on the right has a bridge you can go down to a new area, to the right.
11)
Put That Thing on the Thing - Octan Tower - After opening the big red and black door, to the left
12)
Broadcast News - Octan Tower - After opening the big red and black door head down the hallway on the right and it is in the next room.
13)
Back From Reality - Bricksburg - In the construction yard with the hole in the ground.
14)
Bricksburg Attack - Bricksburg - In the Construction Yard, to the left of the police station in the center of the area.
15)
The Final Showdown - Bricksburg - In the Construction Yard, on the far right, right in front of the target.