History VideoGame / Portal

* ''VideoGame/Portal2'' (2011): The sequel that takes place after an unspecified amount of time after the original and is 2-3 times longer in terms of gameplay time. ''Portal 2'' introduces a few major characters and explores in greater depth the history and workings of Aperture Science, as well as the origins and character of [=GLaDOS=] herself.

* MeaningfulName: Aperture means opening, hole, or gap. Additionally, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aperture in optics, an aperture is a hole or an opening through which light travels]]. This may also be why everything they invent that can have eyes only has one eye, and may also be the basis behind their logo.

* UsefulNotes/{{Cleveland}}: [[https://combineoverwiki.net//wiki/File:Borealis_plans_01.png Apparently]], Portal takes place in Cleveland. Specifically, it takes place in the ''massive'', miles-deep remains of the [[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/02/07/eveningnews/main7327498.shtml real-life salt mines]] near Cleveland that were, in-story, purchased by Cave Johnson back in the 40s and expanded into a gigantic labyrinth of testing and production facilities. The sequel, however, apparently {{retcon}}s this by placing the mine in Michigan.

'''[-This page is for the Portal series as a whole. If you're looking for the first video game in the series with the same name, [[VideoGame/{{Portal1}} please click here.]]-]'''

* ShownTheirWork: Cave's assertion that "ground up moon rocks are pure poison" and his failing health are quite true. Moondust is exceptionally sharp and abrasive, and when inhaled causes acute silicosis. The more serious the dose, the more serious the effects. Grinding $7 million of moon rocks would produce a lot of airborne dust (especially since all of Aperture rigidly adheres to a philosophy of NoOSHACompliance). Cave being Cave was probably on-hand for the grinding and got several good lungfuls of dust. While he's not "poisoned," he definitely has a serious case of acute silicosis, which would've presented with a persistent cough and serious pain, exactly what we hear from him; he's just attributing it to some unidentifiable toxin rather than the trillions of tiny silicon daggers embedded in his lungs.

* EssentialMadness: Schizophrenic Doug Rattman was completely right in suspecting the operating system was [[AIIsACrapshoot out to kill everyone]] and so was the [[SoleSurvivor only survivor]] of the lab incident.

* ''Aperture Hand Lab'' (2019): Another VR tech demo, showcasing the Valve Index Controller's finger tracking by having you interact with several hands-possessing personality cores.

* ''[[http://www.thinkwithportals.com/comic/ Lab Rat]]'' (2011) a short comic taking place before the original game centering on the schizophrenic Aperture scientist Doug Rattman (the guy who wrote all those messages saying TheCakeIsALie) around the time that [=GLaDOS=] was activated.

* ''VideoGame/{{Portal|1}}'' (2007): The relatively short game that started it all, chronicling Chell's journey as [=GLaDOS=] guides her through a series of test chambers in the Enrichment Center.

* ''[[http://www.thinkwithportals.com/comic/ Lab Rat,]]'' a short comic taking place before the original game centering on the schizophrenic Aperture scientist Doug Rattman (the guy who wrote all those messages saying TheCakeIsALie) around the time that [=GLaDOS=] was activated.
* ''[[VideoGame/LegoDimensions LEGO Dimensions]]'' (2015): A CrisisCrossover where Franchise/{{Batman}}, [[WesternAnimation/TheLegoMovie Wyldstyle]] & [[Film/TheLordOfTheRings Gandalf]] explore various dimensions to find a way to defeat [[OmnicidalManiac Lord Vortech]]. One location they visit is Aperture Science, and [=GLaDOS=] plays a supporting role as an antagonist throughout the level and later in the game, [[spoiler: and even gets into an argument with [[Film/TwoThousandOneASpaceOdyssey HAL 9000]] at one point]]. There is also a level pack that is more-or-less a continuation of the Portal series story featuring Chell (as the playable character), [=GLaDOS=] and Wheatley. [[spoiler: The ending song for the game, like the previous ''Portal'' games, was written by Johnathan Coulton and sung by Ellen [=McLain=] from [=GLaDOS=]'s perspective.]]

* FoeRomanceSubtext: ''VideoGame/{{Portal|1}}'' drops several hints that [=GLaDOS=]'s fixation on Chell goes beyond the usual KillAllHumans motivation, with lines such as "Despite your violent behavior, the only thing you've managed to break so far... is my heart." It could be unintentional... but then ''VideoGame/Portal2'' ramps it up further, giving [=GLaDOS=] every PsychoLesbian trope in the book, and she frequently tries to guilt trip Chell using language common to abusive partners. This culminates in "Want You Gone", a BreakupSong in everything but name. ''The Final Hours of Portal 2'' reveals that a cut plotline had [=GLaDOS=] growing increasingly jealous as the player collected personality cores, culminating in them entering a room to be greeted with the sight of a cold roast dinner, at which point [=GLaDOS=] would berate them for missing dinner because they were busy cheating on her with a personality core. In "You Wouldn't Know", the credits song of ''VideoGame/LegoDimensions'', [=GLaDOS=] tries to make Chell jealous, shows resentment over her keeping away, and reminisces over "how much we had".

* UsefulNotes/{{Cleveland}}: [[http://half-life.wikia.com/wiki/File:Borealis_plans_01.png Apparently]], Portal takes place in Cleveland. Specifically, it takes place in the ''massive'', miles-deep remains of the [[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/02/07/eveningnews/main7327498.shtml real-life salt mines]] near Cleveland that were, in-story, purchased by Cave Johnson back in the 40s and expanded into a gigantic labyrinth of testing and production facilities. The sequel, however, apparently {{retcon}}s this by placing the mine in Michigan.

* NeverLiveItDown:
** InUniverse, [=GLaDOS=] never quite lets Chell forget about the time she incinerated the Weighted CompanionCube.
** In one test chamber in ''Portal 2'', she spits out [[ReplacementGoldfish another Companion Cube]] for you to use for the puzzle, [[KickTheDog only for it to disintegrate as soon as you touch it.]] She "apologizes," and gives you another one. [[CrossesTheLineTwice Which also disintegrates.]] The third one can be used, and after the puzzle is solved she even tempts you to try saving ''this'' Cube by taking it through the (disabled) Emancipation Grill, [[ReversePsychology explicitly warning you not to try removing anything from the test area.]] [[spoiler:[[RuleOfThree She disintegrates it anyway when you reach the elevator.]]]] Then she reminds you that [[spoiler:they are sentient]], and suggests the last one [[spoiler:was about to say "I love you"]].

* SanitySlippageSong: This game ends with the creepy song [[AwesomeMusic/{{Portal}} "Still Alive"]] sung by the crazy antagonist master computer [=GLaDOS=]. This song's happy tune contrasts with the lyrics; [=GLaDOS=] is glad Chell killed it (not really), with a hint that [=GLaDOS=] survived in a different form.

---> ''[[AC:CAUTION: This Sign is Radioactive.]]''

NiceJobBreakingItHero: Said verbatim by [=GLaDOS=] during [[spoiler: your final battle]] in Portal One.

* ''The Lab'' (2016): A TechDemoGame for virtual reality, taking place in an Aperture Science pocket universe.

* AlternateRealityGame: On March 1, 2010, the game received a surprise patch, featuring a new achievement and a load of seemingly innocuous sound files full of static. Until someone savvy enough to know old-school technology (SSTV) found images hidden within them and [[http://valvearg.com/puzzlewiki/SSTV_Pictures oh bloody hell]].

* ''VideoGame/{{Portal 2}}'' (2011): The sequel that takes place after an unspecified amount of time after the original and is 2-3 times longer in terms of gameplay time. ''Portal 2'' introduces a few major characters and explores in greater depth the history and workings of Aperture Science, as well as the origins and character of [=GLaDOS=] herself.

* GenreBusting: A first-person puzzle game series.

* ''Bridge Constructor Portal'' (2017): A fusion of the ''Bridge Constructor'' and ''Portal'' series, with the former's gameplay in the latter's environment, released for PC and mobile devices.

* CoresAndTurretsBoss: [=GLaDOS=]

* EvolvingTitleScreen: After completing the game, the player is returned to a title screen that shows the famous cake sitting in a dark room, instead of the detention chamber where they start the game.

* GenreBusting

* HighVoltageDeath: Used to justify Chell's Super Drowning Skills; falling into water causes the portal gun to short out and (presumably) give her a fatal dose of electricity

* InfantImmortality: Judging by the fact that [=GLaDOS=]' initial rampage took place during "Bring Your Daughter To Work Day", it's safe to assume this trope was averted. ([[spoiler:Or at the very least downplayed, considering that Chell was likely among the event's participants.]])

* BagOfSpilling: The Emancipation Grill (also called "the fizzler") is a forcefield which is harmless to Chell and her Portal Gun, but prevents her from taking foreign objects like cubes through it, and there's one at the end of each level, which prevents you from cheating or breaking the game. Additionally, you can't shoot portals through one, and passing through erases all current portals. Many puzzles force you to circumvent Emancipation Grills creatively.

See also VideoGame/PortalCustomMaps, for fan mods of the series.