N64 Expansion Pak confusion

[dreamcaster]

Okay - two things I'd like explained.

1. Ridge Racer 64 - The DP guide says it's Expansion Pak compatible. Every game review says it is too. The box does not, and judging from playing the game - it is not EP compatible. I cannot find ANY evidence whilst playing it, that it supports the EP. Am I missing something simple? Or is everyone just plain wrong?

2. Pokemon Stadium 2 - With an Expansion Pak installed, the title screen displays the words "Expansion Pak Detected". However, again - there is no evidence of ANY improvement to the game, or extra options available. Nothing. Is this some sort of left over Japan-only N64DD feature? Or just the remnants of a last-minute removed element?

Thanks.

[Ze_ro]

Most of the games that use it just silently use to do higher resolution graphics, which might not be immediately noticable. I don't have either of the games in question, so I'm not sure if they're doing this or not.

--Zero

[dreamcaster]

Most of the games that use it just silently use to do higher resolution graphics, which might not be immediately noticable. I don't have either of the games in question, so I'm not sure if they're doing this or not.

--Zero

I thought that would be the case - but no, Ridge Racer looks identical with the Ex. Pak in or not.

[YoshiM]

Thanks Dreamcaster! I did a little digging and no the game does not support the Expansion Pack. It was going to be an option to bump the resolution up to 640 x 480 but the game looked and moved so well without it NST decided to skip it.

I'll make the change.

[Anotherfluke]

With the expansion pak, I believe RR64 supports 4 players; that is the only enhancement.

With Pokemon Stadium 2, it only detesct the expansion pak. There are no benefits.

[dreamcaster]

With the expansion pak, I believe RR64 supports 4 players; that is the only enhancement.

No, the game still runs in 4-player mode without the Expansion Pak.

[Dobie]

Okay - two things I'd like explained.

1. Ridge Racer 64 - The DP guide says it's Expansion Pak compatible. Every game review says it is too. The box does not, and judging from playing the game - it is not EP compatible. I cannot find ANY evidence whilst playing it, that it supports the EP. Am I missing something simple? Or is everyone just plain wrong?

2. Pokemon Stadium 2 - With an Expansion Pak installed, the title screen displays the words "Expansion Pak Detected". However, again - there is no evidence of ANY improvement to the game, or extra options available. Nothing. Is this some sort of left over Japan-only N64DD feature? Or just the remnants of a last-minute removed element?

Thanks.

I have actually wondered the same thing when playing Star Wars Episode 1 Racer and Madden 2000 on the N64. Both supposedly use the expansion pack, but I can't see a dang bit of difference.

[Ed Oscuro]

Rouge Squadron doesn't look much different with the expansion pack, but it is.

[dreamcaster]

On both SW: Episode I Racer and Rogue Squadron I can definitely see a difference between the standard and high resolution modes - more so on Rogue Squadron.

[Ed Oscuro]

Been a while since I used it, but I really had the feeling I couldn't see a lot of difference. I'll be sure to check that out again :)

[sisko]

There is a definitely a difference in Rogue Squadron.

Fly high and you'll notice the texture mapping missing in a far off grid pattern on the ground (just plain ol grey squares). There is none of this with the expansion pack.

[Atari7800]

One game you can really, truly, holy-crap-there-it-is notice the extra RAM is Stunt Racer 64. The jaggies just diasppear, and everything looks so nice... almost Dreamcast in quality.

Of course, you'd have to be stupid AND blind not to see that the addition of the RAM pak LETTERBOXES the entire game, but not in a cool "see more stuff on the sides" kind of way... it just cuts off the top and bottom of the screen. x_x

It's generally got a good idea to chop off the top of the screen in a racing game uless you want to spend the majority of your time rear-ending your opponents.

[MaRiNe]

Theres a noticeable diffrance in games liike Donkey Kong and Majoras Mask, as compared to other games.

[Ze_ro]

I didn't think DK64 or Majora's Mask were all THAT impressive... especially when you consider that Conker's Bad Fur Day doesn't use the expansion pak at all, and I'd say it has the best graphics out of any N64 game.

--Zero

[MaRiNe]

Conker's Bad Fur Day best graphics out of any N64 game.

--Zero

I second that.Talk about a game that needs to have 20 sequals.