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'''Cubes''' are common gameplay implements in both ''[[Portal]]'' and ''[[Portal 2]]''.
{{Quotation|'''GLaDOS'''|If you think trapping yourself is going to make me stop testing, you're sorely mistaken; here's another cube.|sound=GLaDOS_sp_a2_future_starter01.wav}}
[[File:Portal1 StorageCube.png|right|250px]]
'''Cubes''' are common testing elements throughout the ''Portal'' series. They are commonly used to press [[Heavy Duty Super-Colliding Super Button|Buttons]], disable [[Turrets]], or redirect [[Laser]]s.


== Cubes ==
== Cubes ==
=== Weighted Storage Cube ===
=== Weighted Storage Cube ===
The Weighted Storage Cube was introduced in ''Portal'' and remains prevalent in ''Portal 2''. In ''Portal 2'', the blue ring turns yellow when placed upon a [[Heavy Duty Super-Colliding Super Button]].
[[File:Portal2 StorageCube.png|right|100px]]
 
The '''Weighted Storage Cube''' was first introduced in ''Portal'', and remains prevalent in ''Portal 2''. In ''Portal 2'' however, the cube is given a blue ring in the center instead of a blue cross, and can turn yellow when placed upon a [[Heavy Duty Super-Colliding Super Button|Super Button]].
{{Clr}}


=== Weighted Companion Cube ===
=== Weighted Companion Cube ===
[[File:Companion Cube.png|right|100px]]
{{Main|Weighted Companion Cube}}
{{Main|Weighted Companion Cube}}
The Weighted Storage Cube was introduced in ''Portal'' and remains prevalent in ''Portal 2''. Something here about how Valve wanted players to feel attached to the cube, and realise that they had to keep the same cube throughout that entire chapter in ''Portal''.
 
The '''Weighted Companion Cube''' was first introduced in ''Portal'', and remains prevalent in ''Portal 2''. Similar to the Weighted Storage Cube, the Companion Cube possesses a different design in ''Portal 2''. The Cube functions in the same way as a Weighted Storage Cube, being differentiated to encourage test subjects to feel attached to the Cube. {{spoiler|A feature to the new Companion Cube in ''Portal 2'' is that it is able to sing.}}
{{Clr}}


=== Edgeless Safety Cube ===
=== Edgeless Safety Cube ===
The Edgeless Safety Cube was introduced in ''Portal 2'' and is used only in [[co-op]] gameplay. It only appears once in singleplayer as garbage. The "cube" is really a sphere; however, it still retains the coloring scheme and patterns present in the designs of the other cubes.
[[File:ESC.png|right|100px]]
 
The '''Edgeless Safety Cube''' was officially introduced in ''Portal 2'', where it is used only in the [[Cooperative Testing Initiative|co-op]] campaign. However, it also appears once in the single-player campaign as garbage. The entire name is given out of irony, however it still retains the coloring scheme and patterns present in the designs of the other cubes.
 
The Edgeless Safety Cube did have an appearance in a ''Portal'' Challenge Map and a ''Portal: Still Alive'' Map, however it did not have a notable name and also did not have an accompanying receptacle, thus is not widely considered to have its first appearance until ''Portal 2''.
 
This Item appears in Chapter 2 chamber 6, while GLaDOS is cleaning out the cube dispenser, where 2 of them fall out amongst other garbage.
{{Clr}}


=== Discouragement Redirection Cube ===
=== Discouragement Redirection Cube ===
The Discouragement Redirection Cube was introduced in ''Portal 2''. It's main purpose is to redirect the [[Thermal Discouragement Beam]] (a deadly and harmful laser) to other directions and through portals if necessary.
[[File:Portal2 ReflectionCube.png|right|100px]]
{{Main|Discouragement Redirection Cube}}
 
The '''Discouragement Redirection Cube''' was introduced in ''Portal 2''. Its main purpose is to redirect the [[Thermal Discouragement Beam]] to other places or through [[portals]] if necessary. However, the cube has a second use as a Weighted Storage Cube, as it can be used to activate the Heavy-Duty Super Button.{{Clr}}
 
=== Frankenturret ===
{{Spoiler|[[File:Portal2_MonsterTurret_b.png|right|100px]]}}
{{Main|Frankenturret|l1=Frankenturret}}
 
'''Frankenturrets''' are [[Turrets#Sentry Turret|Sentry Turret]] and [[#Weighted Storage Cube|Weighted Storage Cube]] hybrids {{spoiler|created by [[Wheatley]] in order to complete test chambers when he had no test subjects. They are present in the single-player chapters, ''The Itch'' and ''The Part Where He Kills You''.}}
 
Frankenturrets do not speak, and instead emits incomprehensible chirping sounds. {{spoiler|They act as Wheatley's replacement for Storage Cubes, but their behavior is different.}} Frankenturrets will hop around aimlessly while not placed on a button. When picked up by [[Chell]] or put on a button, they retract their legs inside their cubes. If they fall over on their sides or upside down, they will wave their legs trying to get up.
 
{{spoiler|In the Pre-1 chamber of chapter 8, Potato-GLaDOS will attempt to stun Wheatley with a paradox that he fails to understand. It can be noted that when Potato-GLaDOS speaks the paradox, all of the Frankenturrets in the room will fold up their legs, twitch violently, emit electrical sparks and have their pupils rapidly change size,}} which indicates they are, at least, partially capable of understanding words.
{{Clr}}


== Receptacles ==
=== Scalable Cube ===
=== Weighted Storage Cube Receptacle ===
[[File:Scalable_Cube.png|right|100px]]
Weighted Storage Cube Receptacle is a receptacle for the [[#Weighted Storage Cube|Weighted Storage Cube]], introduced in ''Portal 2''. The Storage Cube must be placed securely inside the receptacle for the player to move on. Although its appearance is similar to the [[Heavy Duty Super-Colliding Super Button]], it cannot be activated by the player or any other object being placed on top of it.


=== Edgeless Safety Cube Receptacle ===
The '''Scalable Cube''' is exclusively featured in the [[Portal 2 Sixense MotionPack DLC|Portal 2 Sixense DLC]] Test Chambers. The only way to scale the Cube is with the [http://www.razerzone.com/minisite/hydra Razer Hydra] Controllers, a feature supported by the [[Handheld Portal Device|Portal Gun]] in the DLC. The size of the Cube changes simultaneously with its mass. The Scalable Cube can be used to build bridges between gaps or to crush [[Turrets]].
The Edgeless Safety Cube Receptacle is a receptacle for the [[#Edgeless Safety Cube|Edgeless Safety Cube]], introduced in ''Portal 2''. The Cube must be placed securely inside the receptacle for the player to move on.
{{Clr}}


The Edgeless Safety Cube and its receptacle only appear as gameplay implements in [[co-op]] mode.
=== Contraption Cube ===
[[File:Portal_2_-_Contraption_Cube.png|right|100px]]


== Related Achievements ==
The '''Contraption Cube''' is exclusively featured in the [[Portal 2 - Educational Version]] [[Puzzle Creator]]. It has adjustable mass, friction and elasticity. The minimum mass is 1kg, maximum mass is  85kg. There are 5 levels for friction: frictionless, slippery, normal, sticky and very sticky.  There are also 5 levels for elasticity: no rebound, slight rebound, normal, bouncy, very bouncy. The default settings for the Contraption Cube are 40kg, frictionless, and no rebound. Different settings cause the cube to take on slightly different appearances. It has its own button, the Contraption Cube Receptacle.
=== Portal ===
{{Clr}}
 
=== Schrödinger cubes ===
[[File:P2-CE Schrodinger cubes.png|right|100px]]
 
The '''Schrödinger cubes''' are featured in the ''Portal 2: Community Edition'' and ''Portal: Revolution''. These cubes behave like Discouragement Redirection Cubes. When a laser enters either cube, it always exits from the other cube. It doesn't matter which cube the laser enters; it will always come out from the opposite one.
{{Clr}}
 
=== Skull Cube ===
[[File:StillAlive skull cube.png|right|100px]]
 
The '''skull cube''' is an alternate design for the regular Weighted Storage Cube in which the Aperture logo is replaced by a crudely drawn skull. It is present in the game files of ''[[Portal: Still Alive]]'', but does not appear in-game. Due to a similar design existing for [[Pedestal Button|pedestal buttons]] that are connected to cube droppers, is is widely believed that said cube droppers would have originally dispensed skull cubes, but that this was cut due to players being confused into thinking the cubes had a unique function.
 
The unofficial PC port of ''Still Alive'' reimplements the skull cubes, but they are ''not'' used in any official version of the game.
 
{{Clr}}
 
 
==Cubes Outside of the Portal Series==
 
===Dota 2 Cube===
[[File:Dota_2_Cube.png|right|200px]]
The '''Dota 2 Cube''' is a Portal inspired cube appearing in the art for the Dota 2 "Portal" hud skin.
{{Clr}}
 
== [[Puzzle Creator]] item properties ==
 
* '''Entity Cost:''' 4 (no dropper), 17 (with dropper) Dropperless entity cost taken from Valve Developer Community. Entity cost with dropper taken from BEE2 as VDC did not have it. This may not be accurate as BEE2 modifies cube droppers, which may change the ent count.
* '''Connections:''' This item supports inputs, which drop the cube when activated and fizzle the previous cube (therefore this is only present when the dropper is enabled). ''Connect to...'' is used to connect this item to another, via inputs or outputs. ''Connection visibility'' controls the visibility of this connection, and ''Remove connections'' is used to remove existing connections.
* '''Cube Type:''' Allows switching between Weighted, Companion, Reflection, Sphere and Franken cubes. The [[Portal 2 - Education Version|education edition]] also allows switching to the Contraption Cube.
* '''Dropper Enabled:''' This checkbox controls whether the cube has a dropper or not. If unchecked, the cube will be dropperless.
* '''Auto-drop First Cube:''' This checkbox controls whether the dropper would automatically drop the first cube upon entering the map. If unchecked, it will not drop the first cube, requiring you to activate it's input via a [[Pedestal Button]].
* '''Auto-respawn cube:''' This checkbox controls whether the dropper will respawn the cube. If unchecked, the cube will not automatically respawn, requiring you to activate its input via a Pedestal Button.
 
== Related achievements ==
=== ''Portal'' ===
{{Achievement table
{{Achievement table
| 1 = {{Show achievement|Portal|Fratricide}}
| 1 = {{Show achievement|Portal|Fratricide}}
}}
}}


=== Portal 2 ===
=== ''Portal 2'' ===
{{Achievement table
{{Achievement table
| 1 = {{Show achievement|Portal 2|Drop Box}}
| 1 = {{Show achievement|Portal 2|Drop Box}}
Line 37: Line 101:
| 2 = {{Show achievement|Portal 2|Iron Grip}}
| 2 = {{Show achievement|Portal 2|Iron Grip}}
       {{Show achievement|Portal 2|Party of Three}}
       {{Show achievement|Portal 2|Party of Three}}
      {{Show achievement|Portal 2|Talent Show}}
}}
}}


== Gallery ==
== Gallery ==
=== Portal ===
=== ''Portal'' ===
{{See also|Portal}}
{{See also|Portal}}
<gallery perrow="4">
{{Gallery
File:Portal1 StorageCube.png|Weighted Storage Cube.
|lines = 3
File:Portal Companion Cube.png|Weighted Companion Cube.
|height = 140
File:Portal Sphere.png|A spherical replacement seen in an advanced chamber.
|width = 140
</gallery>
|File:Portal1 StorageCube.png|Weighted Storage Cube.
|File:Portal Companion Cube.png|Weighted Companion Cube.
|File:Portal Sphere.png|A spherical replacement seen in [[Portal Test Chamber 17 (Advanced)|advanced Chamber 17]].
|File:StillAlive skull cube.png|Unused [[Portal: Still Alive]] "skull cube"
}}


=== Portal 2 ===
=== ''Portal 2''===
{{See also|Portal 2}}
{{See also|Portal 2}}
<gallery perrow="4">
{{Gallery
File:Portal2 StorageCube.png|Weighted Storage Cube.
|lines = 4
File:Companion Cube.png|Weighted Companion Cube.
|height = 140
File:Portal2 ReflectionCube.png|Discouragement Redirection Cube.
|width = 140
File:Portal2 40sStorageCube.png|Old Weighted Storage Cube.
|File:Portal2 StorageCube.png|New Weighted Storage Cube.
File:ESC.png|Edgeless Safety Cube.
|File:Companion Cube.png|New Weighted Companion Cube.
File:Weighted Storage Cube Receptacle.png|Weighted Storage Cube Receptacle.
|File:P2_companion_cube_button.png|Weighted Companion Cube, activated.
File:Weighted Storage Cube Receptacle active.png|Active Weighted Storage Cube Receptacle.
|File:Portal2 ReflectionCube.png|Discouragement Redirection Cube.
File:Edgeless Safety Cube Receptacle.png|Edgeless Safety Cube Receptacle.
|File:Portal2 40sStorageCube.png|Old Weighted Storage Cube.
File:Edgeless Safety Cube Receptacle active.png|Active Edgeless Safety Cube Receptacle.
|File:ESC.png|Edgeless Safety Cube.
</gallery>
|File:138px-Edgeless_Safety_Cube_yellow.jpg|Edgeless Safety Cube, activated.
|File:Repulsion Gel Cube.png|A Weighted Storage Cube covered in Repulsion Gel.
|File:Propulsion Gel Cube.png|A Weighted Storage Cube covered in Propulsion Gel.
|File:Scalable_Cube.png|The Scalable Cube.
}}


=== Unused content ===
=== Summary ===
<gallery>
{{Gallery
File:Futbul.png|An unused version of the Edgeless Safety Cube in ''Portal 2''.
|lines = 1
File:Futbul2.png|An unused version of the Edgeless Safety Cube in ''Portal 2''.
|height = 140
</gallery>
|width = 500
|File:All cubes.png|All of the cubes
}}


== See also ==
=== Seen in ===
* [[Mechanics]]
*[[Portal 2 Chapter 1 Introduction|Chapter 1 - Introduction]]
*[[Portal 2 Chapter 1 Test Chamber 1|Chapter 1 - Test Chamber 01]]
*[[Portal 2 Chapter 1 Test Chambers 3 & 4|Chapter 1 - Test Chambers 03 & 04]]
*[[Portal 2 Chapter 1 Test Chamber 5|Chapter 1 - Test Chamber 05]]
*[[Portal 2 Chapter 1 Test Chamber 6|Chapter 1 - Test Chamber 06]]
*[[Portal 2 Chapter 2 Test Chamber 2|Chapter 2 - Test Chamber 02]]
*[[Portal 2 Chapter 2 Test Chamber 3|Chapter 2 - Test Chamber 03]]
*[[Portal 2 Chapter 2 Test Chamber 4|Chapter 2 - Test Chamber 04]]
*[[Portal 2 Chapter 2 Test Chamber 5|Chapter 2 - Test Chamber 05]]
*[[Portal 2 Chapter 2 Test Chamber 6|Chapter 2 - Test Chamber 06]]
*[[Portal 2 Chapter 2 Test Chamber 7|Chapter 2 - Test Chamber 07]]
*[[Portal 2 Chapter 2 Test Chamber 8|Chapter 2 - Test Chamber 08]]


{{MechanicsNav}}


{{MechanicsNav}}
[[Category:Mechanics]]
[[Category:Mechanics]]

Latest revision as of 04:13, 6 July 2024

“
If you think trapping yourself is going to make me stop testing, you're sorely mistaken; here's another cube.
Click to listen
— GLaDOS
 ”
Portal1 StorageCube.png

Cubes are common testing elements throughout the Portal series. They are commonly used to press Buttons, disable Turrets, or redirect Lasers.

Cubes

Weighted Storage Cube

Portal2 StorageCube.png

The Weighted Storage Cube was first introduced in Portal, and remains prevalent in Portal 2. In Portal 2 however, the cube is given a blue ring in the center instead of a blue cross, and can turn yellow when placed upon a Super Button.

Weighted Companion Cube

Companion Cube.png
Main article: Weighted Companion Cube

The Weighted Companion Cube was first introduced in Portal, and remains prevalent in Portal 2. Similar to the Weighted Storage Cube, the Companion Cube possesses a different design in Portal 2. The Cube functions in the same way as a Weighted Storage Cube, being differentiated to encourage test subjects to feel attached to the Cube. A feature to the new Companion Cube in Portal 2 is that it is able to sing.

Edgeless Safety Cube

ESC.png

The Edgeless Safety Cube was officially introduced in Portal 2, where it is used only in the co-op campaign. However, it also appears once in the single-player campaign as garbage. The entire name is given out of irony, however it still retains the coloring scheme and patterns present in the designs of the other cubes.

The Edgeless Safety Cube did have an appearance in a Portal Challenge Map and a Portal: Still Alive Map, however it did not have a notable name and also did not have an accompanying receptacle, thus is not widely considered to have its first appearance until Portal 2.

This Item appears in Chapter 2 chamber 6, while GLaDOS is cleaning out the cube dispenser, where 2 of them fall out amongst other garbage.

Discouragement Redirection Cube

Portal2 ReflectionCube.png
Main article: Discouragement Redirection Cube

The Discouragement Redirection Cube was introduced in Portal 2. Its main purpose is to redirect the Thermal Discouragement Beam to other places or through portals if necessary. However, the cube has a second use as a Weighted Storage Cube, as it can be used to activate the Heavy-Duty Super Button.

Frankenturret

Portal2 MonsterTurret b.png
Main article: Frankenturret

Frankenturrets are Sentry Turret and Weighted Storage Cube hybrids created by Wheatley in order to complete test chambers when he had no test subjects. They are present in the single-player chapters, The Itch and The Part Where He Kills You.

Frankenturrets do not speak, and instead emits incomprehensible chirping sounds. They act as Wheatley's replacement for Storage Cubes, but their behavior is different. Frankenturrets will hop around aimlessly while not placed on a button. When picked up by Chell or put on a button, they retract their legs inside their cubes. If they fall over on their sides or upside down, they will wave their legs trying to get up.

In the Pre-1 chamber of chapter 8, Potato-GLaDOS will attempt to stun Wheatley with a paradox that he fails to understand. It can be noted that when Potato-GLaDOS speaks the paradox, all of the Frankenturrets in the room will fold up their legs, twitch violently, emit electrical sparks and have their pupils rapidly change size, which indicates they are, at least, partially capable of understanding words.

Scalable Cube

Scalable Cube.png

The Scalable Cube is exclusively featured in the Portal 2 Sixense DLC Test Chambers. The only way to scale the Cube is with the Razer Hydra Controllers, a feature supported by the Portal Gun in the DLC. The size of the Cube changes simultaneously with its mass. The Scalable Cube can be used to build bridges between gaps or to crush Turrets.

Contraption Cube

Portal 2 - Contraption Cube.png

The Contraption Cube is exclusively featured in the Portal 2 - Educational Version Puzzle Creator. It has adjustable mass, friction and elasticity. The minimum mass is 1kg, maximum mass is 85kg. There are 5 levels for friction: frictionless, slippery, normal, sticky and very sticky. There are also 5 levels for elasticity: no rebound, slight rebound, normal, bouncy, very bouncy. The default settings for the Contraption Cube are 40kg, frictionless, and no rebound. Different settings cause the cube to take on slightly different appearances. It has its own button, the Contraption Cube Receptacle.

Schrödinger cubes

P2-CE Schrodinger cubes.png

The Schrödinger cubes are featured in the Portal 2: Community Edition and Portal: Revolution. These cubes behave like Discouragement Redirection Cubes. When a laser enters either cube, it always exits from the other cube. It doesn't matter which cube the laser enters; it will always come out from the opposite one.

Skull Cube

StillAlive skull cube.png

The skull cube is an alternate design for the regular Weighted Storage Cube in which the Aperture logo is replaced by a crudely drawn skull. It is present in the game files of Portal: Still Alive, but does not appear in-game. Due to a similar design existing for pedestal buttons that are connected to cube droppers, is is widely believed that said cube droppers would have originally dispensed skull cubes, but that this was cut due to players being confused into thinking the cubes had a unique function.

The unofficial PC port of Still Alive reimplements the skull cubes, but they are not used in any official version of the game.


Cubes Outside of the Portal Series

Dota 2 Cube

Dota 2 Cube.png

The Dota 2 Cube is a Portal inspired cube appearing in the art for the Dota 2 "Portal" hud skin.

Puzzle Creator item properties

  • Entity Cost: 4 (no dropper), 17 (with dropper) Dropperless entity cost taken from Valve Developer Community. Entity cost with dropper taken from BEE2 as VDC did not have it. This may not be accurate as BEE2 modifies cube droppers, which may change the ent count.
  • Connections: This item supports inputs, which drop the cube when activated and fizzle the previous cube (therefore this is only present when the dropper is enabled). Connect to... is used to connect this item to another, via inputs or outputs. Connection visibility controls the visibility of this connection, and Remove connections is used to remove existing connections.
  • Cube Type: Allows switching between Weighted, Companion, Reflection, Sphere and Franken cubes. The education edition also allows switching to the Contraption Cube.
  • Dropper Enabled: This checkbox controls whether the cube has a dropper or not. If unchecked, the cube will be dropperless.
  • Auto-drop First Cube: This checkbox controls whether the dropper would automatically drop the first cube upon entering the map. If unchecked, it will not drop the first cube, requiring you to activate it's input via a Pedestal Button.
  • Auto-respawn cube: This checkbox controls whether the dropper will respawn the cube. If unchecked, the cube will not automatically respawn, requiring you to activate its input via a Pedestal Button.

Related achievements

Portal

Fratricide
 Fratricide
Do whatever it takes to survive.

Portal 2

Drop Box
 Drop Box
Place a cube on a button without touching the cube
Preservation of Mass
 Preservation of Mass
Break the rules in Test Chamber 07
Schrodinger's Catch
 Schrodinger's Catch
Catch a blue-painted box before it touches the ground
Iron Grip
 Iron Grip
Never lose a cube in Chamber 6 of the Mass and Velocity co-op course
Party of Three
 Party of Three
Find the hidden companion cube in co-op test chamber
Talent Show
 Talent Show
Never lose a cube in Chamber 6 of the Mobility Gels co-op course

Gallery

Portal

See also: Portal
Weighted Storage Cube.  
Weighted Companion Cube.  
A spherical replacement seen in advanced Chamber 17.  
Unused Portal: Still Alive "skull cube"  

Portal 2

See also: Portal 2
New Weighted Storage Cube.  
New Weighted Companion Cube.  
Weighted Companion Cube, activated.  
Discouragement Redirection Cube.  
Old Weighted Storage Cube.  
Edgeless Safety Cube.  
Edgeless Safety Cube, activated.  
A Weighted Storage Cube covered in Repulsion Gel.  
A Weighted Storage Cube covered in Propulsion Gel.  
The Scalable Cube.  

Summary

All of the cubes  

Seen in

v • d • e
Mechanics
Portal
Portal 2
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