GLaDOS, the ominous, quietly murderous computerised-God of Aperture Science is the players only means of navigating the games many traps, tricks and puzzles, so having this sociopathic super-computer controlling every aspect of the environment is a highly threatening prospect and what elevates Portal from being a normal puzzle-game to something memorable. GLaDOS creates a tense atmosphere where the information she tells you must always be taken with dubious mistrust. So why do we want this wannabe HAL 9000 to succeed? If GLaDOS is victorious in outfoxing our character Chell, she will be a rat caught in the mechanised maze for the rest of her life. This means a lifetimes worth of incredible, ingenious, satisfying puzzles to complete ourselves and GLaDOS are the winners while Chell is very much the loser. Seems fair, right? Plus, therell be cake.
Hailing from South East London, Sam Heard is an aspiring writer and recent graduate from the University of Warwick. Sam's favourite things include energy drinks, late nights spent watching the UFC with his girlfriend and annihilating his friends at FIFA.
