Average Customer Review: ( 148 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.

What does it do? For some games that work both with and without the expansion pack, it greatly increases the types of graphics shown during gameplay. Pod Racer is a stellar example. Play without the pack, and you get rings and blocky graphics. Add in the pack and you suddenly have lens flare, details of ships racing beside you, crucial information about upcoming turns. It makes the game play the way the developers intended.

It's like watching The Matrix on a shoddy VHS tape copied from a friend, and then seeing it on DVD. It's an amazing difference for a very low price.

In addition, many new games coming out are so graphic-intensive that they require the expansion pack to even play. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask is a key example. This is an EXCELLENT game with great extended gameplay, but you can't even start if you don't have this pack in place.

It's not difficult to install - you simply plug it in once and it stays there permanently. You can still play older games with it in place. If you're paying $60 for games, why not pay out for this expansion that will make them all play better, and give you access to the newer games?

116 of 125 found the following review helpful:

Nice upgrade, but not anything hugely innovative.Jun 15, 2000

I have been a Nintendo fan for many years, and so naturally I own the Nintendo 64. Recently, this "Expansion Pak" was released to improve the quality of games, so I bought that too (after searching for it for months, when it was sold out everywhere). My overall opinion of it: mixed.

You see, this product isn't really a huge innovation. It allows for a better picture with a higher resolution, and allows for some extra data to be accessed, though it doesn't do much more. It doesn't greatly enhance any game you use it on- it just updates it a little. It is nice, though, to have graphics that aren't quite as blurry.

Earlier on, when this was first coming out, I might not have advised you to buy it (back then, it wasn't that important). Now many games being released require that you have an expansion pak, you can't play the game. Therefore, for a serious gamer, or even a casual gamer, this is a must-buy-item. I would suggest, though, killing two birds with one stone and getting the expansion pak with Donkey Kong 64, which is a great Nintendo game.

87 of 93 found the following review helpful:

EXPAND YOUR GAME BRAIN!Nov 16, 1999

The expansion pack adds a lot to your N64 system. I own Rogue Squadron and for a long time I played it without the expansion pack. Finally, I got it for Christmas. When I put it in and played Rogue Squadron again, new scenes were showing up that were never there before! If you want the ultimate in N64 gaming...get this thing.

35 of 38 found the following review helpful:

Just some quick informationDec 09, 1999

If you have seen this on the "people who bought Donkey Kong 64 also bought these items list" dont buy it. Donkey Kong 64 is prepackaged with a Memory Expansion. (As it is the first N64 game to require it).

24 of 25 found the following review helpful:

A benefit for Nintendo Fans!Aug 14, 2000

I must admit, I was a tad dissapointed that we had to buy this thing in order to play some games for the N64. Not that many require it, but the best games DO require it to get the best performance out of it. As the days of Nintendo went by, so did the games and so did my endless day in the house and not leaving it, to play with my N64. I've come to the realization that the PAK does help out much with many games that don't even require it. A fact that you might not know about the expansion pak is that it does, in fact, help every N64 game out there, however, not all of them take in the dramatic effect that it has to offer. Games not designed for it, won't use it as much or as well as games that do work with it will, however, little things can be improved. As with the N64 Expansion Pak, I've noticed that many games (designed for it) work more than well on the system and are greatly improved. As the fact that Nintendo is pushing out games that now require it (Majora's Mask, DK64)it is vital to have it. A tad pricey, yes, but beneficial all the same.

See all 148 customer reviews on Amazon.com