MANIAC MANSION Though the graphics and gameplay are somewhat primitive when compared to other games in the library, it's ground-breaking in its use of multiple characters, cut scenes and multiple endings. The easiest way to get your hands on a copy may be an abandonware website, though it can also be bought on eBay or (along with many other classic adventures) in the "Lucas Archives Volume 1".

LOOM" is a much darker adventure, with puzzles solved by using songs played on a magical staff. It can be frustrating to fully master the game play. Characters talk in abstract, and there is a lot of back story, but it a rich, tapestry of a story that is well worth the effort. The only real drawback here is that it was originally intended to be a trilogy, and many conflicts are left unresolved.

The second game in the "Monkey Island" series. Easily one of the best adventure games ever made, it expands exponentially on the fun and hilarity of the first. "Revenge" involves much more elaborate puzzles, and a wider variety of locations. Bonus points to those of you who can spot the direct "homages" that "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" makes to this game.

The sequel to "Maniac Mansion", it features much improved graphics and full-voice dialogue, still keeping the fundamentals of what made the original such a success. Back is the use of multiple characters to solve puzzles, although their use is enforced at specific times, meaning much of the open-endedness of "Maniac Mansion" is lost. What makes it the better game is its improved story.

One of the more serious entries in the library, "Full Throttle" follows the adventures of a down-and-out leader of a bike gang. It takes place in desolate deserts during a rather post-apocalyptic future. All the characters mumble in low, gravely voices, scheming all the while. Its gravitas is almost negated by the thinness of the story, but it still maintains an atmosphere of harshness.

The third game in the "Monkey Island" series. Much of the series' tone changes with this game -- fans are divided on the merits of said alterations. For those used to the lush 3-D visuals of today's games, CoMI may be easier to swallow than some of the older, more pixelated games in the library. Boasting feature-quality animation, the cartoony graphics are particularly noteworthy here.

The fourth game in the "Monkey Island" series, and the most reviled by die-hard fans. Under new designers, the style of humour gets an overhaul. While it is funny, it may leave some wanting for the sharp wit of the earlier games. Also, in abandoning the mouse for the keyboard, it creates many maneuverability issues. All the same, it still retains much of the charm of the series as a whole.