Review - People of Note

Developer: Iridium Games

Publisher: Annapurna Interactive

Platforms: PC (Steam, Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2

Reviewed on: PlayStation 5

Music is a universal language. We all hum. We bop to the beat. Some of us sing in the shower. Music is woven into the history of humanity, going back to ancient and prehistoric times. There's a magic to it that resounds as large as the cosmos itself. For the music makers, they have the magic paper to deliver music, but their path is fraught with obstacles and those who oppose them. These are the dreamers. These are the People of Note. 

Iridium Studios is back with a game that is all about chasing that dream, the obstacles that one faces, and the friends made along the way, all in the pursuit of a chance under the lights. People of Note is a triumphant and incredibly well-made RPG, filled with color, a fantastic combat system, and one of the best soundtracks of the year. 

Strings of the Story

Cadence (Heather Gonzalez/ LEXXE) is a young woman living in the world of Chordia. It’s the center of the music universe, the world of Note. Cadence has a voice and a dream: She wants to be under the lights and make a difference with the music she can provide. However, she is quickly struck down during tryouts for the show that would make her dreams come true. Noteworthy. The judges don’t want originality or something new and fresh. They want what drives clicks and audiences, and that is the corporate, manufactured music. Leading the charts is the pop boy band, Smolder, whose good looks and vocals dominate the airwaves. 

Defeated but not discouraged, Cadence sets out to get onto the Noteworthy somehow. After a rigorous battle with J-Pop star Yuna Verse (Sura Siu), she manages to attain a golden cleft to make her way to the competition. However, she soon discovers something far more sinister is afoot. She discovers that the musical harmonies of Note are in peril. Sinister forces are moving to disrupt the musical balances of the land. Cadence sets off on a quest to assemble a band and get on Noteworthy, but her mission may affect the entire world of Note and everything in it. 

Looking For Something to Help Me Burn Out Bright

People of Note is a turn-based RPG musical, not a music-based RPG. This entire RPG, from the combat to the very items that can be equipped, is themed to the entire world of music. Rock, metal, grunge, EDM, Pop, J-Pop, even woodland and Irish-inspired music are featured in the game. There are many other music genres represented in the various lands that players visit. Players don’t need a degree in music to play People of Note, as the game has been constructed to be reachable and accessible to RPG lovers and those who have never played an RPG before. 

The People of Note experience begins with the customization options that are available for players. People of Note features exploration, turn-based combat, and puzzles, and puzzle combat. The combat features quick-time prompts during various abilities. Before the game begins, players can customize their RPG experience. If you are not a fan of button prompts in the middle of combat, they can be turned off. If players aren’t a fan of puzzles, they can be turned off, too. Various difficulty settings are available to make the game as easy or as hard as players wish. This kind of customization is unprecedented in the genre and should be commended. It’s a refreshing decision that makes People of Note an already tremendous pick for those with even an interest in the game. 

Drop It Like It's Hot

Like any RPG, the goal is to explore, fight enemies, and experience the story. People of Note does a good job of steadily introducing the gameplay mechanics to the player. Not too slow and not too fast. The game follows the basics of turn-based combat, but there are interesting mechanics that create a fulfilling gameplay system that is woven into the musical themes of the game. Exploration is standard fare. Exploration and asking around for the secondary quests or treasure chests with items. The meat of People of Note is the thrilling combat and amazing story. 

This begins with the game's version of the battle timeline, the stanza. This shows the order in which player and enemy attacks occur. The first battles start solo, but players will be accompanied by Cerrin (Marwan Salama) by the first boss fight. Occasionally, players will have more attacks available than party members, but so will the enemy. Soon, enemies get tougher, and this requires understanding two important parts to the combat: The songstones and the remix stones. 

We're Gonna Be Golden

Songstones are equippable stones that affect abilities for combat. The stones vary from offensive, defensive, and healing. The first few stones allow for big offensive attacks and healing, and they are powered by BP notes. The first offensive songstone, Instant Hit, costs three BP points. TO restore BP points, players select rest in battle to recover and defend. Understanding when to rest, when to attack, and when to use the abilities is the key to combat. 

Combat can also be affected by the equipment being carried. Players earn two types of currency in dungeons: Groove and Vinyls. Groove is the more momentary currency that can be used to buy certain items. Vinyl is earned in combat. Certain vendors in the dungeons allow for special items to be purchased that can only be bought with vinyls. These items can make a big difference in combat, especially during boss fights. If players need more vinyl, they may “drop a beat” and enter a random battle to earn more vinyl, groove, and experience points. 

Don't Fall Away

Songstones are essential, but remix stones offer special buffers to the songstones. One remix, amplify, can enhance certain abilities. Another enhancement includes AP points. AP points are earned after battles. More are earned with each subsequent battle as the group resonates and bonds. The AP can be applied to the various songstones, amplifying their power but also increasing the cost of BP needed in battle to use them. 

During battle, the game’s already stellar music changes. This is called the tempo. The stanza reveals what temp is next. The temp can change from pop to EDM to rock, and other genres. When the temp changes, visual color cues fill the battle area. For example, when the tempo switches to Pop, Cadence glows a purple hue, and purple stars begin falling from the sky. The tempo increases her attack and defensive power, but not for any other members of her party. Likewise, when the tempo Rock is featured, the ground rips open and the rocker, Fret (Jason Charles Miller) glows yellow, increasing his abilities but not Cadence. This is essential and can make a big difference in battle. 

Rock This Way

Finally, there is the mashup. The party consists of various persons with various musical backgrounds. As players take damage, their mashup bar increases. If the bar gets filled, and both characters have a turn with no knockdown, they can unleash an extremely powerful attack that can turn the tide of a battle. Keep in mind this doesn’t make the combat one-sided, as the enemy, especially the boss fights, are tenacious and just as driven as you. 

The enemies are well-designed, and as the game is music-driven, the enemies are remarkably creative. I encountered enemies like the Metal Head, which was a literal metal head with fire attacks. The lyre wolf has a lyre woven into its back. The Harpy is a flying, angel-like harp. These designs are incredibly imaginative and thoughtful, but dangerous. One of the bosses has a real name of Quincy, but everyone calls him Freq, which, when combined, sounds like frequency. Yuna Verse is the J-Pop Star that is the center of her own universe. 

Time Stand Still

The boss fights are some of the most intense and creative I have seen in a game, at least in quite some time. What begins as simple and straightforward soon grows into a real battle of the bands. The longer a boss fight goes on, the stronger the crescendo builds. This means the attack power grows stronger, and the chances of winning quickly reduce. These fights cannot simply be bypassed by hitting the attack button. This is where People of Note encourages players to understand the various combat mechanics. I barely won through the skin of my teeth. Though, as aforementioned, if the battle is too intense, there are adjustable difficulty settings. 

The same kind of wonderful imagination that is woven into People of Note is woven into the attacks as well. During one battle, specifically the one against Quincy, Quincy used Rush, and a ticking clock glowed on the battle floor. It was a detriment to me, reducing an attack chance, but it was a clear nod to the Canadian Rock band Rush and, perhaps, their song Time Stand Still. I couldn’t help but be impressed by that. People of Note is strong in its music pun game. I found myself laughing quite a bit when purchasing an item called “ Simon’s Cowl,: a reference to Simon Cowell of the early seasons of American Idol. One of the stores is named Three Stores Down, a reference to the alternative rock band Three Doors Down (Rip Brad Arnold).

Closer to the Heart

After talking about the elaborate but exciting combat, People of Note has to nail the story, and I’m pleased to see that People of Note is a fantastic story. It’s a game that is written, built, and for fans of music, but even casual music listeners will resonate with the story. It’s a story of dreams and a story of not giving up, but it’s a tale with various layers to it. It’s a tale of mending hurtful memories. It’s a story of bringing balance not to the world but to one’s life. It’s a story of finding one’s way. I don’t want to spoil the various aspects of the story, but it is enjoyable and deep. 

The story is accompanied by a fantastic voice-work lineup that features the likes of Heather Gonzales, Erica Linbeck, and Alex Bonillo. The story is told through visual novel-style cutscenes with voiceover, but at times, the story is told through strong musical singles. These music videos, some of them Disney-esque, are incredibly powerful, delivering the motives of the story and building significant character. I was moved by their tracks as it makes the characters in People of Note dimensional and feel characters, where players care about their outcomes. There is a ton of content to this adventure and players are bound to be engaged all the way to the conclusion. 

Biodigital Jazz, Man

Visually, People of Color is stunning in its artistic portrayal of this music-woven universe. The main city of Chordia is breathtaking on its own, but the various worlds, like the EDM-focused Lumnia and the rock and roll world of Durandis, offer very distinct visual settings, as well as music. There’s even a forest dedicated to a mish-mash of Irish music and classical instruments. There’s an incredibly strong visual imagination to People of Note, and I didn’t want to stop being in this world. 

People of Note is not a perfect game. One puzzle had me a little stumped as I needed to make it to the second floor, and the way up wasn’t made clear until the puzzle was almost done. I got stuck on a few boss fights, especially the first one, and feel the fight could’ve been tweaked to be a bit easier. I do wish there were a map to explore the various worlds as well. However, these are mere raindrops in an ocean of positivity. 

The People of Note

I sing the praises of People of Note loud and clear. People of Note is a game-changing RPG filled with heart, love, and excellent music. It’s a widely customizable RPG with a tremendous story, exciting combat, and strong visuals. I highly recommend People of Note for those seeking a musical escape and to find their own spark in their own lives. I easily predict People of Note will make several GOTY lists. It certainly made mine. Join the ensemble of People of Note. You'll find your tune and your groove.

PEOPLE OF NOTE IS A MUST-BUY

A review key was provided for the purpose of review.