[Please note: (1) this article will contain spoilers and (2) I have not yet played Half-Life, so I will not address the condition of the world outside the Aperture Laboratories facility.]
Portal is a popular puzzle game created by Valve. I've recently been able to get it, and its immediate sequel. The basic story is that of a trapped test subject in a AI-controlled test facility, attempting to escape. The puzzle game revolves around the use of the iconic portal gun. The story presented within the two games is interesting of itself. One key element is the primary antagonist/temporary ally, GLaDOS.
As with many other instances of science fiction, sentient (or seemingly sentient) computer AIs is a significant element within Portal. GLaDOS, turrets and the various personality cores are all robotic life-forms, of sorts. There's no arguing that GLaDOS and Wheatley, a personality core introduced in Portal 2, have more fleshed out personalities and motives than the rest of the artificial intelligences.
The driving force behind Portal's story line is the plot device of an out-of-control AI bent on some harmful goal. This is a common trope in science fiction, that of an artificial life-form or intelligence going beyond its programming or designs. One need only think of 2001: A Space Odyssey for the most iconic example: HAL 9000. Both are examples of technologically optimistic outlooks on the future of computational technology. As is obvious, AI has not yet advanced quite as far as HAL or GLaDOS.
A point must be made about GLaDOS: part-way through Portal 2, the player learn that she contains the personality of an assistant named Caroline. Thus, she is not strictly an AI because part of her intelligence came from an organic life-form. Most rampant AIs that I am familiar with are those that are strictly artificial, being AIs that somehow receive sentience, either by accident, design or outside forces. GLaDOS, then, is sentient by design, owing to her start as the human Caroline. Nevertheless, in the original Portal, GLaDOS occupies the role of primary antagonist, and nothing more. The sequel, through an interesting plot device, alters her role in the narrative. Through the introduction of another leading character, however, GLaDOS fills another role: unwilling sidekick.
Portal 2 adds a third primary character in the person (errm, robot) of Wheatley, another personality core. Whilst reading up, I found that his role is described as that of a "deuteragonist:" a character who is the second most important in the story. He or she can function as a foil to the protagonist. One source I found mentions that the deuteragonist may switch between aiding and opposing the protagonist. By this definition, both Wheatley and GLaDOS fulfill the role of deuteragonist: While GLaDOS initially opposes you and Wheatley aids your escape, GLaDOS fulfills the antagonist role, and Wheatley the aiding deuteragonist. After replacing GLaDOS with Wheatley as main core controlling the facility, GLaDOS will eventually become a sort of side-kick twinged deuteragonist, while Wheatley becomes a hostile deuteragonist.
Wheatley, unlike GLaDOS, remains a solid deuteragonist throughout the game. In the first half, as he aids your escape attempts, the player comes to appreciate him as a character and companion. When he becomes controlling core of the facility, GLaDOS' body has unforeseen affects on his personality: however, the bumbling idiot side of him still remains. Despite his increase in power and the addition of a malevolent streak, he is still a sympathetic character. In the Developer's Commentary, it is noted that his exile into space with the Space Core was seen as a fitting punishment: not too severe, but not a small slap on the wrist. GLaDOS is also a sympathetic character, but she held her grudge against Chell (the main character and sole remaining human test subject) of her own power, and not because of the corrupting influence of the power of the Aperture facility. True, she is more civil as a potato, this does not change her overall opinion of Chell being "a monster" or stop her from constantly barraging Chell with sarcastic insults. Wheatley, during his time in power, attempts this a few times but is shot down by the much skilled GLaDOS.
Portal and Portal 2 thus exhibit a tripartite structure with its main characters: Chell is the (silent) protagonist; GLaDOS, the antagonist; and Wheatley, the bumbling deuteragonist.
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