The N64 was and still is a beloved Nintendo console. Sporting some of the most fun 3d games at the time, the N64 revolutionized how people enjoy video games. Aside from the unique and sometimes off-putting N64 controller that gave your hand a workout, the expansion pak is a close second to interesting accessories.
Basically, the expansion pak double the amount of RAM that the system could output, thus leading to more robust and vibrant graphics. The expansion pak gave the console a boost of power so to speak. There were a handful of games that required the expansion pak to actually play but many other games benefitted from this extra RAM.
8 Donkey Kong 64
Okay, so the main reason Donkey Kong 64 actually needed the expansion pak was to prevent a game-breaking bug. This is also why the game actually came packaged with the expansion pak. Unfortunately, this game-breaking crash couldn't be solved once the game was out in the wild, thus the need for the expansion pak solution.
While Donkey Kong 64 isn't really a good vote for why the expansion pak was necessary for extra power or performance, it nevertheless helped people to fully enjoy the game without getting stuck. In today's age of day one patches and the like, it's hard to imagine a time when a game bug couldn't be fixed easily.
7 The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask is probably one N64 game that really utilized the power of the expansion pak's added RAM. The expansion pak provided a noticeable boost to the graphics in Majora's Mask, specifically with cleaner and smoother textures and the removal of some fog in the game.
Another major feature that the expansion pak added to Majora's Mask was that the game could not handle more on-screen characters and models, thus making the world feel more lived-in. Also, the game required the expansion pak so it came bundled with one as well.
6 Perfect Dark
So, technically Perfect Dark didn't actually require the use of an expansion pak, however, without one, the game was barely playable since most of the content required the use of the pak. Basically, Perfect Dark's single-player campaign and co-op additions, as well as some of the multiplayer features wouldn't work without the expansion pak.
In addition to providing a majority of the content with the pak, it also provided an upgrade to the visuals and overall performance. Perfect Dark was a stellar-looking game at the time and one that showcased the power of the N64 but this wouldn't have been possible without the pak.
5 Castlevania: Legacy Of Darkness
The 3D Castlevania games from the N64 aren't exactly highly regarded. This is unfortunate because while the gameplay might have been middling at best, the visuals were a feast for the eyes, especially if you were already a fan of the moody gothic ambiance from its 2d counterparts.
The expansion pak provided a wonderful boost to the visuals for this game. With the pak you could enable a high-res mode which really helped each detail pop off the screen. However, this extra boost to visuals actually made the overall performance suffer.
4 Excitebike 64
If you wanted to enhance the visuals that Excitebike 64 had to offer to a whopping 640x480 (an impressive feature at the time), then you had to have the handy expansion pak installed in your N64. Excitebike 64 is a game that emphasizes speed and precision to the extra resolution boost certainly wouldn't hurt.
Since this iteration of the racing series deviated from the side-scrolling nature, instead opting for a 3rd-person view, it became clear to many people that the expansion pak's benefits were really felt here.
3 San Francisco Rush: 2049
The N64 featured some wonderful arcade racing games, namely, the Rush series. San Francisco Rush: 2049 was a more future-oriented title and thus benefitted from the extra RAM the expansion pak brought to the table. Interestingly, the expansion pak provided a much-needed upgrade to the game's performance but also the more detailed visual effects.
Similar to Perfect Dark's case, 2049 required the pak in order to access certain content. Essentially the pak opened up a couple of the tracks which featured more advanced mechanics. It also brought music to the arcade races.
2 Resident Evil 2
Resident Evil 2 was a groundbreaking game upon arrival, especially on the N64. Since the N64 mostly featured family-friendly-style games, it was refreshing to see a zombie horror game on the console. Resident Evil 2 had fantastic visuals for the time, even without the expansion pak, however, using it bolstered an already spooky game.
The expansion pak buffed up the game's resolution overall without sacrificing performance. This resolution boost helped enhance the environments and character models, meaning that the zombies were even more fear-inducing.
1 All Of The N64 Tony Hawk Games
Okay, so this might be a cheat to feature all of the N64 Tony Hawk games for one entry but it feels necessary since each one of them received benefits from the expansion pak installed. The Tony Hawk Pro Skater games are incredibly fast-paced, requiring precision and speed in order to do well on most levels.
Fortunately, the expansion pak provided a boost to each game's performance. This boost in performance meant the framerate would be even higher so your gnarly tricks would look even more smooth and stylish.