Puzzle elements/Boxes

The boxes, or formally Aperture Science Weighted Storage Cubes, are one of the main Portal puzzle elements, being introduced before Chell even gets the Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device. The main concept is that when the player places a box or stands on a button, a mechanism, usually a door, opens. Despite that, mappers have become creative and used the boxes for other purposes.

Weighted Companion Cube
A variation of the box, known as Aperture Science Weighted Companion Cube, is shown in Test Chamber 17. It features a heart on each of its sides, unlike the original box which features the company logo.

The goal of Test Chamber 17 is to use the Companion Cube to activate three energy ball catchers and then incinerate, or euthanize, the cube.

One of the test subjects, known as Doug Rattmann, as seen from his writings in Test Chambers 17 and 19, was very obsessed with his Companion Cube.

Other variations
Valve in Portal only showcased the regular cube and the Companion Cube. may variations of cubes have been added, but will not be added to P:AAA.