Nintendo 64 Expansion Pak
Top Gear Overdrive Specific Peripheral Functions
Enables hi-res option, increasing resolution to 640x480.Specifications
Serial Number: NUS-007From Wikipedia
The Expansion Pak consists of 4MB (megabytes) of random access memory (RAM) - which is RDRAM, the same type of memory used inside the console itself - increasing the Nintendo 64 console's RAM from 4MB to 8MB of contiguous main memory. Originally designed to accompany the 64DD disk drive expansion peripheral for its larger multimedia workstation applications, the Expansion Pak was launched separately in Q4 1998 and then bundled with the 64DD's delayed 1999 launch package. The Expansion Pak is installed in a port on top of the console and replaces the pre-installed Jumper Pak, which is simply a RAMBUS terminator. It was bundled with an "ejector tool" (NUS-012) for helping removing the original Jumper Pak.
Game developers can take advantage of the increased memory in several ways, including greater visual appeal. The Expansion Pak is required in order to run three cartridge games, Donkey Kong 64, Perfect Dark, and The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, and all 64DD software. Capcom's Resident Evil 2 uses the Expansion Pak for increasing visual details of environments and monsters, and Perfect Dark has limited gameplay options when the Expansion Pak is not present. Supporting games usually offer higher video resolutions or higher textures and/or higher color depth. For example, the Nintendo 64 all-remade version of Quake II features higher color depth but not a higher resolution when using the Expansion Pak. It is used in StarCraft 64 to unlock levels from the popular Brood War add-on for the PC version of the game. Many games such as Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness and Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine optionally use the Expansion Pak to add a high resolution 640x480 display mode for games, while other games see the benefit of a smoother frame rate. Certain games, such as Duke Nukem: Zero Hour, offer the user the choice between increased resolution or increased frame rate. The Expansion Pak is available separately as well as bundled with Donkey Kong 64. In Japan, the Expansion Pak is additionally bundled with Zelda: Majora's Mask and Perfect Dark, though the games have been also available separately in other regions. Space Station Silicon Valley is known to potentially crash on startup if the Expansion Pak is present.
IGN celebrated the Nintendo 64 industry's methods in launching and supporting the Expansion Pak, for making a high impact accessory with "immediate and noticeable" effects but which is nonetheless mostly optional.
Title | Pak required? | Notes |
---|---|---|
Aidyn Chronicles: The First Mage | No | The Expansion Pak is required for the "High Quality" graphics setting. |
All-Star Baseball 2000 | No | |
All-Star Baseball 2001 | No | |
Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M. | No | |
Army Men: Air Combat | No | |
Army Men: Sarge's Heroes | No | |
Army Men: Sarge's Heroes 2 | No | |
Battlezone: Rise of the Black Dogs | No | |
Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness | No | The Expansion Pak enables the option to turn on "Hi-Res" mode. |
Command & Conquer | No | The Expansion Pak is required for high-resolution map textures. |
Daikatana | No | Allows for a "hi-res" graphics mode, which changes the game to a widescreen view but has little noticeable effect on graphics. |
Donkey Kong 64 | Yes | Used to enhance graphics and provide more expansive environments. Also prevents a game-breaking bug that would cause the game to randomly crash. Since Rare could not fix the problem, the Expansion Pak is packaged with the game. If the Expansion Pak is not used, a notice will be shown on screen, preventing the game from being played. |
Duke Nukem: Zero Hour | No | The Expansion Pak allows the player to choose between playing at high resolution or with a faster frame rate. |
Excitebike 64 | No | The Expansion Pak enables the option to turn on "Hi-Res" mode. |
F-1 World Grand Prix II | No | The Expansion Pak allows a full race replay. |
FIFA 99 | No | Allows for an unadvertised "Super High" resolution mode of 640x480. |
Gauntlet Legends | No | The Expansion Pak is required for 4 player multiplayer. |
Hybrid Heaven | No | |
Hydro Thunder | No | The Expansion Pak is required for 3 and 4 player multiplayer. |
Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine | No | |
International Superstar Soccer 2000 | No | The Expansion Pak is required for high-resolution textures; however, performance suffered as a result. |
International Track & Field 2000 | No | |
Jeremy McGrath Supercross 2000 | No | |
Ken Griffey, Jr.'s Slugfest | No | Allows for hi-res gameplay. |
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask | Yes | Utilized to increase texture detail, remove fog that is prevalent in Ocarina of Time, and increase number of on-screen models as well as effects. |
Madden NFL 2000 | No | |
Madden NFL 2001 | No | |
Madden NFL 2002 | No | |
NBA Jam 2000 | No | Only the PAL version signifies its Expansion Pak compatibility on the box. |
NFL Quarterback Club '99 | No | |
NFL Quarterback Club 2000 | No | |
Nuclear Strike 64 | No | |
Perfect Dark | Yes | The Expansion Pak is required for the single player, co-operative and counter-operative campaigns, as well as most multiplayer features. It also allows hi-res mode. |
Pokémon Stadium 2 | No | States "Expansion Pak Detected" on the Start screen if one is being used. Increases the resolution to 640x480 pixels. |
Quake II | No | Uses the Expansion Pak for extra graphical detail. |
Rayman 2: The Great Escape | No | Increased video resolution. |
Re-Volt | No | Unlocks Medium Resolution mode (doubles resolution); cheat code "FLYBOY" enables higher quality. |
Resident Evil 2 | No | Increased video resolution and texture detail. |
Road Rash 64 | No | The Expansion Pak increases the framerate from 30Hz to 60Hz. |
Roadsters | No | |
San Francisco Rush 2049 | No | The Expansion Pak is required for Track 6, the Advanced Circuit, Changeable rims, and music during Arcade races. |
Shadowgate 64: Trials of the Four Towers | No | |
Shadow Man | No | Improves the texture quality. |
Spider-Man | No | |
South Park | No | Enables hi-res mode, increases frame rate in lo-res mode. |
StarCraft 64 | No | The Expansion Pak is required for the Brood War missions. |
Star Wars: Episode I: Battle for Naboo | No | Increases resolution to 640x480, greatly increasing picture sharpness. |
Star Wars: Episode 1 Racer | No | Enables hi-res mode, which runs at 640x480 pixels with higher-resolution textures. Also increases the framerate in lo-res mode for smoother gameplay. |
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron | No | Increases the resolution to 640x480 pixels. |
The World Is Not Enough | No | Provides enhanced graphics and visual effects. |
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater | No | |
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 | No | Increases framerate, especially noticeable during multiplayer games. |
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 | No | |
Top Gear Hyper Bike | No | |
Top Gear Overdrive | No | Enables hi-res option, increasing resolution to 640x480 |
Top Gear Rally 2 | No | |
Turok 2: Seeds of Evil | No | The Expansion Pak is required for high-resolution map textures. |
Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion | No | |
Turok: Rage Wars | No | The Expansion Pak allows for hi-res textures, and slight screen resolution increase. |
Vigilante 8 | No | |
Vigilante 8: 2nd Offense | No | |
World Driver Championship | No | Required for hi-res mode. |
Xena: Warrior Princess: The Talisman of Fate | No |
14 games are compatible with the Nintendo 64 Expansion Pak
Nintendo 64 Rumble Pak
Specifications
Serial Number: NUS-013From Wikipedia
The Rumble Pak is an accessory which provides haptic feedback to the player by way of vibration. It is powered by two AAA batteries and connects to the controller's expansion port. It was released in 1997 for the new game Star Fox 64 or Lylat Wars, with which it was originally bundled.