People of Note Review – Music of the heart

Cadence has a dream, and it’s a dream shared by many across both the real world and the world of Note. Cadence wants to be a pop star. The only problem here is the stranglehold that the establishment have on the music of this entirely music-based society. While there’s a yearly talent contest to crown the biggest star, it’s been won by the same group nine years in a row, and one of the members of the adjudicating council is their manager. It’s like X-Factor or Pop Idol, but Simon Cowell has already picked the winner and signed them to his label. The injustice, the blandness, and the tired old tracks that sound like everything else have pushed Cadence to the limit, and now she’s turning everything up to 11 on her quest to win the key to the city and the recording contract that comes with it.

People of Note takes that musical setting and turns it into a turn-based RPG, with musically-enhanced combat featuring a rhythm action element that riffs on games like Paper Mario and Expedition 33. Pressing buttons in time with the music and the on-screen markers will beef up your abilities, dealing more damage to your opponents if you get it right. Get it wrong and each battle is going to be like a 12-minute drum solo, slogging away for far longer than necessary, and with an increased chance of failure and booing – apologies to all the drum solo fans in the audience.

The combat and levelling up are both really well judged, with a turn-based system that allows you the opportunity to customise or specialise with each of your characters, upgrade different abilities, and explore ways to enhance them further. It’s pleasingly smart, and though I didn’t find the standard difficulty all that challenging, it rewards thoughtful strategy and planning ahead.

Cadence’s musical journey has her seeking a way into the Noteworthy tournament after Councilman Sharp throws her out of the audition, declaring her to be a failure. That’s despite the horrendously catchy song she sings, Under The Lights, which is pop musical theatre in the style of The Greatest Showman, and successfully lodged itself in my head for a good day or two afterwards.

This musical journey sees her venturing out into the wider musical world, where she experiences such wild innovations as rock music – gasp! – and country – the horror! – but it’s all done with such gentle affection for music in all its forms that you are willing to overlook its more twee moments. This is far more High School Musical than it is Tick Tick Boom, but there’s a genuineness that is hugely likeable throughout.

Cadence is sassy, forthright and single-minded, making for a strong central character, and her roster of friends and bandmates are here to support her as only good bandmates can. There’s a pleasing emphasis on conversation, and learning about the characters and the world helps to make the world of Note feel real and lived-in. NPC dialogue manages the difficult trick of being short, interesting, and important, and I never found myself hammering the skip button, except when I accidentally triggered the same conversation a second time.

Sometimes, People of Note does struggle to find exactly where it wants to be tonally, so there’s some delightful asides, such as Acorgian, a pettable accordion dog, lodged next to the slightly too obvious societal commentary about the rock district’s fracturing ideals – metal, grunge and punk are at each other’s throats. There is an overarching message of harmony and togetherness, but it’s occasionally funny to have Cadence marching out to fight against bland pop overlords while toting songs that are about as generic in their own way as well, even if they are pretty catchy.

Music is a deeply personal thing, and that messaging is one of People of Note’s greatest strengths, but equally, there’s a strong possibility that these songs won’t find the right home in your ear canal. For every cool moment – I especially love the battle music in the metal district – there’s a bagpipe-laden folk song to grate its way through every fibre of your being.

People of Note certainly looks the part, and the character art in particular is truly excellent, giving each of the characters some much-needed class. The world of Note is also very well realised, with each musical area having its own distinct look, even if they’re not huge areas that you’re exploring. That said, I really like just how focused People of Note is, with a linear path, some decent head-scratching puzzles, and likeable characters to carry you through, without a hideous amount of grind, or a bevy of side quests. If you’re a fan of turn-based RPGs, but struggle to make your way through them, this is absolutely the game for you.

There are only a few bum notes in the game’s design, with some of the environmental puzzles proving a major roadblock and annoyance. The team at Iridium Studios may well know that, as there’s the option to turn them off at the start of the game. Don’t get me wrong: some of them are smart and enjoyable, but others… well, I’ve just about managed not to launch my Switch 2 across the room.

Speaking of Nintendo’s lovely new handheld, People of Note performs very well, the majority of the time. There’s one or two odd moments where things slow down – in a solitary cutscene in particular – but the rest of the time it’s smooth sailing.