10 Video Games That Owned Themselves

Ron Gilbert might have picked up the idea for The Secret of Monkey Island from the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney World (in a curious twist of fate, the later movie took its cue from the game), but it was other adventure games - and in particular, Sierra's death factories - from which he drew most inspiration for its famed trenchant humour.

Between the manual gleefully telling players that, unlike certain rival games, curiosity won't kill Lucasart's cats, and an astonishing rubber tree pasquinade which put King's Quest directly in the crosshairs, Monkey Island also found time to gently deride itself. During the game's closing cut-scene, as Guybrush Threepwood and Elaine Marley enjoy the fireworks - actually the spirit of ghost pirate LéChuck exploding into a gazillion pieces - the novice pirate comes over all philosophical:

"At least I learned something from all this," he tells his prospective belle.

"What's that?" she asks, a romantic glint in her eyes.

There are three dialogue options here, but only one correct choice:

"Never pay more than 20 bucks for a game." The end.