Nintendo Brings Back 3 More N64 Classics for Switch Online Subscribers

As both a lifelong Nintendo fan and gaming industry analyst, few recent developments have excited me more than Nintendo unlocking its Nintendo 64 vault to Switch Online subscribers. The aptly named Expansion Pack gives access to a nostalgia-filled library of N64 classics alongside a batch of Sega Genesis favorites for just $50 annually.

Let‘s explore the three latest N64 heavyweights Nintendo added to sweeten the value proposition even further.

The Expansion Pack Story So Far

First, some quick background. Nintendo kicked off this initiative in October 2021, letting Switch Online members level up to the Expansion Pack to play emulated Nintendo 64 and Genesis games. It began with nine N64 classics like Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Mario Kart 64 before expanding with third party greats like Yoshi‘s Story, WinBack and Banjo-Kazooie sprinkled in over the next 10 months.

As we pass the 1-year anniversary, the library sits at 19 games strong. And based on this trajectory, I forecast it reaching 25+ by the end of 2023 as Nintendo continues unleashing gems.

Pilotwings 64 Lets Your Aviation Dreams Soar

One such underappreciated gem finally took flight on October 13th in the form of Pilotwings 64. Upon returning to this charming 1996 flight simulator, I‘m amazed by how superbly it plays and looks even today.

You choose one of six amateur pilots, each boasting their own quirks and exaggerated character model. Gameplay opens up across two primary islands packed with objectives. To complete these, you take to the skies via gyrocopter, hang glider, skydiving, even a rocket belt!

The crisp graphics hold up brilliantly in portraying gorgeous islands with plenty of environmental details. Whether drift gliding along gusty ocean shorelines or slaloming down a slope in the gyrocopter, Pilotwings nails the thrill of aviation. repay value through expert runs remains sky-high. I easily lost hours this past weekend striving for perfect scores across events.

Beyond nailing gameplay, Pilotwings 64 shines through gut-busting humor. Landing a gyrocopter poorly makes your pilot freak out in slapstick form. Little sound effect touches like a goose‘s honking eliciting screams never gets old either. It‘s the full package showcasing Nintendo magic during the N64 era that holds up sensationally.

Mario Party 1 – Mushroom Kingdom Mayhem for All

Meanwhile, Mario Party 1 kicks off Nintendo‘s long-running party game franchise in style. Released in 1998 from Hudson Soft and Nintendo EAD, Mario Party 1 gathers up to four players to square off across nine themed boards as iconic Mushroom Kingdom characters. Everyone takes turns rolling dice to advance spaces, potentially triggering special events or mini-games after each move.

Over 50 zany mini-games test skills like button-mashing prowess, memory, balance, coordination and speed. The variety keeps engagement high, while their quick nature maintains excitement. Boards feature fun themes like a western desert, tropical island, even a horror-esque ghost house with surprises around every corner. The combination makes for an enthralling virtual board game experience that spawned over a dozen stellar sequels.

Now on Nintendo Switch Online, Mario Party 1 retains magnificent replay value especially with online play support enabling sessions with distant friends and family members. Its foundation shaped numerous sequels, but returning to where the mushroom madness first began proves an utter joy.

Mario Party 2 Turns Up the Minigame Madness

Clearly Mario Party resonated with consumers, as savvy developer Hudson Soft rushed out a stellar Nintendo 64 sequel called Mario Party 2 by 2000. More of everything amplified the established Mario Party formula for another round of game board competitions and momentous minigame showdowns:

• Six brand new game boards with varied layouts, surprises and events
• Expanded roster of playable characters including Donkey Kong and Wario
• Around 65+ spectacular new minigames tapping into the analog stick
• Fun story premise involving Mario heroes entering a land of dreams

Mario Party 2 evolves its precursor‘s addicting foundation in all the right ways for another magnificent multiplayer experience. Compared to modern entries, it offers a purity focusing on the board game concept with minigames as exclamation points. Online play integration lets far-away friends join in today too.

I‘ve already lost hours upon hours majestically reigniting friendly rivalries in Mario Party 2 online. Its boards shine even brighter thanks to the crisp graphics of Nintendo 64 games running in emulation. If you never owned a Nintendo 64 but want to experience Mario gaming magic that‘s sustained over two decades, Mario Party 1 and 2 are mandatory.

Expansion Pack Value Soars Higher with These Additions

Here in 2022 with 19 N64 games available and counting, an annual Expansion Pack subscription is arguably one of gaming‘s best values at $30 above the base Switch Online membership. You unlock nostalgia-rich N64 and Genesis favorites that play excellently through Nintendo‘s emulator while gaining online multiplicative support.

And we know iconic N64 titles like the original Pokémon Stadium, 1080° Snowboarding and perhaps the legendary Goldeneye 007 lie ahead. For $50 annually, reliving childhood gaming glory in 16-bit and 64-bit form makes subscribing a no-brainer proposition.

Adding gems like Pilotwings 64 plus the Mario Party original duo only sweetens the already delicious deal. I‘m thrilled to have them available on my Switch for quick play sessions whenever I desire some retro gaming greatness!

Parting Thoughts from Your Resident Nintendo Fanboy

As both a lifetime Nintendo devotee and gaming industry analyst, I‘m ecstatic by the excellent curation and steady stream of N64 additions to Nintendo Switch Online. Modern gaming offers incredible experiences, but revisiting these Nintendo 64 cornerstones that awed me in the 1990s brings tremendous nostalgic joy.

Pilotwings 64, Mario Party 1 and Mario Party let me recapture childhood bliss in spades either solo or online with friends. Nintendo continues sprinkling in classics at a solid clip, so the Expansion Pack value proposition keeps growing. Here‘s hoping for 25+ N64 ports by the end of 2023!

What treasured N64 favorite would you add to the collection next? Does subscribing at $50 yearly seem worthwhile? Let me know in the comments – I could chat retro Nintendo all day!