People of Note Review – Rhythm, Rivalry, and RPG Brilliance

People of Note Review

It takes something special to stand out in the turn-based RPG genre. With countless games flooding the market, a clever gimmick or new mechanic isn’t enough to make an impact. People of Note aims to rise above the crowd with its unique blend of Disney-inspired musical numbers, stunning art direction, and cohesive theming. Developed by Iridium Studios, will this symphony hit all the right notes, or will its ideas clash into a discordant mess?

You play as Cadence, a budding pop star looking to break into the industry. With the world infatuated with the conventional pop band, Smolder, she sets out across Note in search of musical icons, hoping to form an eclectic group and win the coveted Noteworthy Song Contest. However, it’s not as simple as it seems; dark forces aim to disrupt the natural order, forcing unlikely allies to come together for the greater good.

Cult of Personality

Characters derive from different musical backgrounds, personifying each genre’s attitudes and tone. Brought to life through strong voice acting and design, you’ll quickly form a connection with this band of misfits as they draw you into their individual stories and the overarching narrative. While the writing is strong, the aggressive use of musical puns can be a little grating; however, its implementation with the world and combat is wonderful.

Each region is tied to a musical genre. Its inhabitants and architecture both reinforce this identity, further enriching the world’s lore. Deep caverns and jagged cliff faces house metallers, while neon-soaked streets pulse with EDM; each area feels distinct and full of life. Although relatively small, these locations serve a clear purpose, encouraging exploration and expanding the universe. Shops and treasure chests allow you to upgrade your equipment, helping to give you the edge in battles. People of Note simplifies this process with a small number of upgrade slots and the ability to instantly equip new items and sell old gear. While only a small addition, this saves you from trawling through menus and keeps you immersed in the world.

Puzzles are well-designed and naturally embedded in the environment. Whether reflecting beams in elaborate patterns to trigger mechanisms or rolling parts of a massive flute into place, they vary the pacing and enhance the adventure. Each puzzle is themed with the world, creating distinct and memorable biomes that further accentuate the splintered community. Although not particularly challenging, they provide variety and require some experimentation to overcome. Most importantly, they’re enjoyable, logic-based conundrums that help keep you immersed throughout the adventure.

Fight For Your Right

Whether you’re taking on several minions at once or battling against a menacing boss, fights include several layers, allowing you to switch your strategy to each situation. Like everything else in the game, this is themed with turns labelled as stanzas and time signatures representing the number of actions available. This allows you to plan ahead, as you can see what your opponent is going to do and the number of actions you have prior to this. Whether you’re planning a large-scale attack, a health revamp or removing one of the number of barriers to causing damage, it’s an addictive combat system that is both accessible and multi-layered.

Selecting an option triggers a button prompt sequence, where timing your inputs determines the effectiveness of your choice. Similar to games like Paper Mario, this system keeps you immersed in battles as you aim to maximise each attack. As fights progress, the backing tracks alter, giving certain members of your party a boost depending on their musical background. This encourages you to switch between your party members to maximise each turn. Battles crescendo with your enemies gaining strength the longer matches continue. This adds to the intensity of fights as you try to vanquish the opposition quickly. Combined with huge specials, where your team mixes sounds to unleash a massive move, the combat system is varied and keeps encounters feeling dynamic rather than repetitive.

A Symphony of Style and Sound

The influence of animation giants like Sony Pictures Imageworks is evident in the stylized character designs, fluid animation, and jaw-dropping environments. A vivid colour palette makes each location stand out while supporting a diverse range of settings. The presentation is enhanced by the truly magnificent score. When wandering through areas, you’ll hear the score change reflecting the sub-genre or theme of the place. This is amplified in full Disney-style musical numbers that progress the story and showcase the musical talents of the developers. There’s a genuine love for the industry that permeates the game, which makes it especially appealing to music fans.

People of Note is uniquely brilliant. This music-themed adventure is a true homage to the industry, boasting an incredible visual style and a stellar soundtrack. Whether solving environmental puzzles or taking on foes, every moment feels engaging, creating a well-paced journey across multiple regions, each brimming with personality. While some of the dialogue can be a little grating and its range of genres may not resonate with everyone, it captures the spirit of a playable musical and deserves a standing ovation.

***PlayStation 5 code provided by the publisher for review***