9. Portal – ???
Screw internet theories. Even before you chose to step into that realm you knew damn well that the companion cube was different. This beauty of a game has us (as Chell) going through test chamber after test chamber with the sarcasm effusing not-so-robotic robotic voice of GLaDos to accompany us in a facility with nothing near about being called human. A thoroughly enjoyable game. Nice!
And then came test chamber 17. Just another test chamber. Then, we spot an Aperture weighted cube with a pink heart on all sides. As if that wasn’t enough, GLaDos goes on to say, “The Enrichment Center reminds you that the Weighted Companion Cube will never threaten to stab you and, in fact, cannot speak”. She even tells us to disregard its advice if it ever speaks! A little disturbing if you put your brains to it but hey! It wasn’t a robot!
That small touch of familiarity is quickly put out as it turns out that the test chamber can only be cleared after ‘euthanizing’ the companion cube. You have to ‘euthanize’ it. ’We tried every way to make it to the elevator with the cube by our side; we even made camera sacrifices to keep a better watch over the dwellers of this world. But all efforts went in vain as we saw the cube wink out of existence in the fiery glow of the incinerator put to such a demise by our own hands. It pained. A LOT.
