Gels

“

We haven't entirely nailed down what element it is yet, but I'll tell you this: it's a lively one, and it does NOT like the human skeleton. Click to listen — Cave Johnson on the Repulsion Gel

”

Gels are a gameplay implement introduced in Portal 2. They are paint-like liquids that impart different effects on surfaces and objects.

Gels

Repulsion Gel

Main article: Repulsion Gel

Repulsion Gel is a light blue substance that repels objects. A player or an object that hits a surface coated with it bounces off. Jumping off such a surface launches the player higher than a normal jump. Objects such as Storage Cubes and Turrets can be covered in Repulsion Gel, which causes them to bounce around erratically.

Propulsion Gel

Main article: Propulsion Gel

A bright orange gel that greatly increases object velocity and reduces friction of objects moving on surfaces it is applied to. Objects covered in Propulsion Gel similarly have their friction reduced, causing them to slide around.

Conversion Gel

Main article: Conversion Gel

Conversion Gel is a portal-conducting white liquid made from ground moon rocks. It enables the player to place portals on surfaces that originally are not portal conductive.

Water

While not technically a gel, water washes off other gels from surfaces and objects. It has no special properties towards gameplay and does not stick to surfaces.

Related achievements

Vertically Unchallenged Master the Repulsion Gel White Out Complete the first Conversion Gel test

Stranger Than Friction Master the Propulsion Gel Schrodinger's Catch Catch a blue-painted box before it touches the ground

Gallery

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  Repulsion Gel

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  Propulsion Gel

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  Conversion Gel

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  Water

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  A Weighted Storage Cube covered in Repulsion Gel

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  A Weighted Storage Cube covered in Propulsion Gel

Trivia

• A fourth gel, "Sticky Gel", was tested within Portal 2, however it was removed early on during the development due to making play-testers motion-sick.
• Repulsion Gel was Aperture Science's first attempt at creating a dietetic pudding substitute.
• Similar to how the student game Narbacular Drop became Portal, the paint mechanic was taken from a student game called Tag:The Power of Paint.

See also

• Mechanics