A new music-themed RPG called People of Note helped me relax perfectly.
With a vacation comes the decision of which game to play during the trip. I considered trying the harder levels of Super Meat Boy 3D, but wanted something more relaxing. Slay the Spire II was an option, but I knew I’d play it for a long time. I wanted a game to get lost in and complete in over a week. People of Note, a new music-focused RPG from Annapurna Interactive and Iridium Studios, was just what I needed.
In the game, you play as Cadence, an aspiring pop singer, whose quest to outshine a boy band turns into an adventure to save the world with her band. Everything in People of Note revolves around music. Major characters have animated musical numbers. Game areas are themed by musical genres. Many lines include musical terms or puns, like a sign near a birdcage offering a “free bird.” The music references can be excessive, but I admire the dedication.
Music is crucial during turn-based battles, accompanied by great tunes. Strategic timing of button presses after selecting a move, akin to the Nintendo DS classic Elite Beat Agents, is key for maximum damage or health recovery. During your party’s “stanza,” you see available moves and enemy plans on a musical staff for strategy.
You play characters’ moves in any order, often mapping out the best strategy to buff characters and deal damage. You can customize your team with “songstones” and “remix stones,” similar to Final Fantasy VII’s Materia system, assigning moves to characters and granting perks.
Bosses bring everything together, offering a just-hard-enough challenge on standard difficulty. Sometimes, I’d lose a boss fight close to victory, requiring a switch in songstones or some level grinding. Some boss designs are excellent, including a humorous Dragon Ball nod with a move called “Kamehayeehaw.”
Not everything works perfectly. Systems take hours to open up. Puzzles often involve tedious switch flipping. The story is typical RPG fare, leading me to skip conversations for exploration and battles.
These issues didn’t hinder me much. During my break, I played on my Steam Deck whenever possible, finishing the game in around 20 hours, just before returning to work. Though filled with familiar RPG elements, the game condenses them into an enjoyable package. As a way to unwind, People of Note was perfect.
People of Note is now available on Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.