People of Note is one of those games that just charms you from the get-go. As someone who enjoys musical theater, it’s shocking that not many games try to bring that art form to a more interactive environment. Iridium Studios, a relatively new studio, and Annapurna Interactive have done exactly that and may be the best of the bunch, especially for RPG fans.

Stay Sharp

The story of People of Note follows Cadence, a determined pop singer, trying to win the Noteworthy singing competition while also stopping a world-threatening event. Along the way, she’ll meet artists outside her musical boundaries to join her band and create a new type of symphony. It can be a bit surface-level, but it does make things more approachable and easy to enjoy. Still, some plot holes and pacing involving certain characters can get in the way of some of the more interesting parts.

Surprisingly, one of my highlights is the RPG gameplay, taking notes from Persona and classic Final Fantasy. Taking turns via ‘actions’ on a ‘stanza’, you can use the placement to your advantage, charging up attacks, bringing down defense, or going on a full-out assault. However, reminiscent of Paper Mario and, more recent, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, quick-time events (QTEs) will power up moves and unleash their full potential. It’s a great system that makes the most of the music genre, matching to the rhythm and keeping you on your toes. There are some tough bosses, so you’ll definitely get into the groove of things in good time.

As a fan of the genre, People of Note handles the RPG mechanics well. It’s approachable and intuitive, but almost limitless in options. You can customize characters a touch, giving them Songstones to grant new moves and abilities, and making them the way you’d like. For example, I made Fret be an attack/support character, healing and boosting peers while dealing some good single-target damage. However, you could put all your chips into him being a powerhouse. It’s up to you and that bit of freedom is much appreciated.

Singing Praises

Of course, the star attraction is the musical numbers, which are quite plentiful. While not all of them are pitch perfect, when it lands, it hits a high that’s impossible not to love. Some highlights for me were “Under the Lights, “Spitting Image”, and “Sorry Girl”. They add to the narrative rather than detract and are a nice refreshment after tough battles or long cutscenes.

The musical score behind the singing is good, as well. You can tell how integral music plays a role in the game, both in and out. The world’s tunes make things more vibrant and brings out the whim and whimsy that People of Note excels in. Levels like the Choral Reef and Durandis have some great themes and they extend to the interchanging battle music, which flows with whatever genre is most powerful during a stanza (like Pop or Rap).

Under the Spotlight

On that note, the art direction is brimming with creativity. As each setting represents some sort of music genre, it matches it perfectly. There are some clever enemy designs that made me surprised that someone didn’t think of it sooner. The character designs are a good blend of realism and music-themed, like the EDM DJ Synthia or the rapper Vox. It’s charming and they really compliment each other. Though, the switching from 3D to 2D for certain scenes, especially for lengthy dialogue, does break the pacing a bit. 

As someone who loves a good pun, People of Note has some stellar ones. It’s got everything from dad jokes to groan-inducing jests, and it’s all great. It makes every world much more enjoyable knowing you’re in for some neat music references or play-on-word enemies. It can feel a touch reliant on it and sometimes a bit distracting, but I really enjoyed it not taking things too seriously.

In terms of experiencing the many settings, the locked camera does get a bit annoying. Not being able to be fully immerse into things and the angles changing constantly makes things disappointing. However, props do go to Iridium Studios for the accessibility features, which help across a range of categories, including puzzles (which can get frustrating), combat, and other needs. Plus, with the game only being around 12-14 hours, it’s a great weekend knockout and one you could go back to over and over.

People of Note Has Both Rhythm and Rhyme

Verdict

People of Note surprised me quite a bit, in a good way. Its musical inspirations, vibrant world, and fun combat were a delight. While some narrative snags and camera issues get in the way, there’s some great potential here. If a sequel is made, and I sure hope one is, I really do see it becoming the star it’s meant to be. For now, I can’t wait to stream its songs and know that you can do musicals right by gaming.

Score: 7/10

People of Note is available now on Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.