Apollo

APOLLO is a 2D pixel art, narrative puzzle game that centers on the experience of deafness. The game is a video game production project by Jun Matthew Brecio, Sean David Fargas, and Enzo Valdez in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Information Technology with a specialization in Game Design and Development. The project is guided by the Social Model of Disability, aiming to represent deafness not as a limitation, but as a different way of perceiving the world. 

Players take on the role of Apollo, a protagonist born deaf, who navigates a world silenced by a neurological event known as the "Acoustic Collapse." Apollo uses a special device his mother invented to perceive "echoes," which are emotional audio fragments embedded in the environment. By restoring these echoes through various puzzle-based minigames, he brings color and life back to a grayscale world and uncovers clues left by his mother. 

The gameplay involves exploration and puzzle-solving through a series of rooms in a house, including the Kitchen, Living Room, Garage, Backyard, Treehouse, and Attic. Each location contains a unique echo tied to a memory, which is unlocked by completing a specific minigame, such as waveform alignment, frequency tuning, or pattern memorization. As players progress, the narrative unfolds, revealing the story of Apollo, his mother Lyra, and the cause of the Acoustic Collapse. 

Designed to be inclusive, APOLLO can be experienced by both non-hearing and hearing players. It features extensive visual cues, closed captions, and uses color and environmental changes to convey emotion and story without relying on dialogue. Sound is used as an additional layer to provide emotional depth for hearing players but is not essential for understanding the game. The development team consulted with the deaf community through a survey to ensure the game's representation is respectful and authentic. 

Jun Matthew Brecio: Producer/Project Manager,Audio & Sound Designer

Enzo Justin Valdez: Lead Programmer

Sean  Fargas:  Designer,  Artist, Lead UI/UX Manager