Chell, the silent protagonist of the Portal series by Valve, is the main player character in both Portal and Portal 2. She is speculated to be the daughter of an Aperture Science employee. Chell's appearance is based on Alésia Glidewell, with a redesign in Portal 2 that underwent several changes during development, including a laboratory-hat variant. As a first-person perspective character, Chell is only visible through reflections and portals in the game.
Chell was generally well-received by critics and gamers, with many people praising the fact that she does not speak and looks like a "normal-looking and normal-dressing woman" in contrast to many other female characters in first-person shooters.
In Portal, Chell undergoes tests overseen by the AI GLaDOS. She defeats GLaDOS to escape but is dragged back by the Party Escort Bot. Chell's origins are unclear, with speculation about her adoption and possible ties to Cave Johnson, Aperture Science's CEO. In Portal 2, a science fair poster hints at her connection to Aperture. As a first-person character, Chell is glimpsed occasionally through portal reflections. She appears in Lego Dimensions with her portal gun, and in a Fall Guys costume holding a portal gun.
GLaDOS (Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System) is a key character in the Portal video game series, created by Erik Wolpaw and Kim Swift, voiced by Ellen McLain. Initially a helpful guide, GLaDOS's demeanor turns malevolent as her true intentions unfold. In the sequel and accompanying materials, it's revealed she was mistreated by scientists and used neurotoxin to eliminate them before the events of the first game. Destroyed in the first game, she returns in the sequel, temporarily confined to a potato battery, while her human past as Caroline is explored.
The character of GLaDOS in Portal stemmed from Wolpaw's use of a text-to-speech program while writing for Psychonauts, which other developers found amusing. Originally intended for only the first area of Portal, GLaDOS's role expanded due to positive feedback. Play testers were motivated by her guidance, leading to other characters being removed from the game. GLaDOS underwent various physical designs, including one with a large disk below her. Ellen McLain provided GLaDOS's voice, imitating dialog read by a speech synthesizer and performing songs for the game's closing credits. "Still Alive" became a hit, featured in games like Rock Band and widely covered on YouTube. GLaDOS appeared in subsequent games like The Lab and Lego Dimensions.
GLaDOS garnered widespread acclaim, praised for her narcissistic, passive-aggressive, and witty personality. She's hailed as one of the greatest video game characters, particularly from the 2000s, with IGN ranking her among the best. GLaDOS won numerous awards as the best new game character in 2007 and is often cited as one of the greatest video game villains, topping lists from IGN and Game Informer. Critics and developers frequently analyze her character, comparing her to other villainous AI systems like HAL 9000 and SHODAN. She even crosses paths with HAL 9000 in Lego Dimensions.