We’re facing an oversaturated market in every category of video games, not just turn-based RPGs. So it’s exciting to see companies striving to stand out with games that take the classic formula and infuse it with their own soul. That’s what People of Note is. This title brings its own unique rhythm to turn-based combat, replacing traditional RPG elements with a vast collection of vinyl records and accessories, and delivers a compelling narrative, full of wonderful and musical moments, even if some of its puzzles and design choices might seem like an odd note.
Music Brings Us Together
Once again, we’re diving into the world of People of Note, as we were lucky enough to try out two demos. And finally, we uncovered the story beyond this musical trial.
In this story, you take the role of Cadence, who wants to leave her mark by winning an American Idol-style contest called Noteworthy. However, the story quickly reveals that this world of beautiful songs isn’t all it seems. For in this world, where music is what makes it go round, there is also corruption and conflicts of interest. Take, for example, the judge who crushes Cadence’s dreams to keep the boy band he manages at the top of the charts.
One thing I really liked about Cadence is how compelling she is as a protagonist. She may start as an eager, sometimes a diva-like, spoiled singer who only cares about herself and believes she is entitled to win just because of who she is. Still, she slowly grows as the plot progresses and more companions start joining her merry band of singers hailing from all genres. As someone who’s a fan of turn-based RPGs, but mostly delves into those of high fantasy, I loved the setting that People of Note brought, as it made the whole journey even more memorable.
The best part of the story is how the development team didn’t limit emotions to dialogue alone. Instead, they enveloped players’ ears with several pre-rendered musical numbers featuring incredible songs. One noteworthy (no pun intended) thing about People of Note is just how well it mixes all these musical genres into a medley. Still, beyond being a purely melodic combination, it creates a medley of RPG staples that culminates in an excellent experience for roleplaying fans.
Music to My Ears
I can’t deny that I was captivated by the lights of the main city, where the charm of pop music dominates the atmosphere and architecture. But just like concerts, that’s only the surface—it goes much deeper. In People of Note, music is in every aspect; even as a soloist, you know the show needs more people, just like the battles.
One of the standout features is that the timeline within the battles, the Stanza, is shaped like the neck of a stringed instrument. It displays the attack order of your characters and the enemies, though the attacks themselves are represented as melodies. When executing them, there will be a quick-time event, more like Guitar Hero or OSU, so you’ll need to be precise: the more accurate you are, the more effective your song will be. Like other turn-based games and songs, not all melodies will be heavy rock attacks; instead, there will be synthesizers that restore HP or energy, or pop ballads that increase damage output.
I really enjoyed the unique combat mechanics and how it felt like creating my own song by piecing together melodies. I think it was quite a challenge for the developers to pull off the Mash-Ups—not just as attacks, but also musically, blending different rhythms. But it’s not all about the stage; there’s plenty to do backstage as well, with musical puzzles to solve throughout the world. The puzzles have a good level of difficulty; they’re fun and, like the world, are music-themed—such as one where you have to activate amplifiers with a giant guitar to open a passage.
However, not everyone enjoys the same level of difficulty. Hence, People of Note has an interesting feature: in the Accessibility menu, you can help characters complete puzzles if they find them too complicated or don’t like solving them. The best part is that you can activate it at any time from the menu. The same goes for combat; in the Accessibility settings, players can also adjust the difficulty to make battles easier, which is appreciated because everyone has their own rhythm.
Face the Music
People of Note has managed to stand out in a market flooded with so many games that often offer a few new things. Its theme delivers fun and polished gameplay that never feels out of place. I think the most underutilized mechanic is the build system; although accessories and instruments do provide upgrades, I didn’t really feel the need to buy them in every town. However, being able to choose your songs and remixes is what helped me the most during battles. But for me, what really stands out is how the songs and cutscenes bring the world, the story, and the characters’ emotions to life. The music is what really connected with me.
People of Note (PC review)
In People of Note, the wonderful story shows us the importance of sticking together in the face of obstacles in unique turn-based battles and connecting with others through music.
Pros
- A superb integration of the musical theme with the gameplay and world-building.
- An interesting story that incorporates musical scenes.
Cons
- Lack of creating a character build that goes beyond the surface level.
