I'm a sucker for turn-based RPGs, a great game soundtrack, and indie games. People of Note, impressively, strikes all three chords. The upcoming RPG from Iridium Studios could be one of this year's most under-the-radar chart-toppers.
I recently had a chance to get my hands on the demo, which puts you in control of our lead character, Cadence, as she's searching for more members to join her band. I began my search in a dusty canyon where rock genres have caused division and a gang of country/folk-inspired villains are pushing their way in. After a run-in with the gang where local rock legend Fret helped out, Cadence decides she has to persuade the old guitarist to join her cause. With some research and a persuasive musical number, he joins up and you help him with some issues caused by one of his former bandmates.
People of Note has several exciting things going for it. The characters are interesting, even if our lead has the same name as another notable music game's female lead (Crypt of the NecroDancer). Each character is also rooted in a different musical genre. Cadence is pop, Fret is rock, and so on. You'd be forgiven for thinking the different genres don't play well together. These musical differences are what make the band interesting, though, as it both gives texture to the story and variety to the combat system, which is rooted in music.
At its core, People of Note is a turn-based RPG that, like last year's Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, employs real-time button presses for success or added benefit. In People of Note, each turn is referred to as a stanza. There's a time signature that represents actions by your party (number on top) and actions by your opponents (number on bottom). With a varied party, each stanza will focus on a different music genre, granting characters of the same musical genre bonuses to damage or boosts to different abilities. You'll also have to factor in your place in line on the turn order per stanza. I genuinely enjoyed my time with the combat system and I look forward to how that's going to grow and change over time.
With a game like People of Note, which focuses heavily on music, you better make dang sure your game features a killer soundtrack. Based on my time with the demo, I'm happy to say People of Note is clearly on the right track. They've got some great melodies and the different genres blend together well. There's even a cut-scene where Cadence and Fret come to a musical understanding of their team-up that I found to be both heartwarming and a pretty slick tune.
People of Note has all the basics to make for a great game and a memorable experience. While we won't know for sure until the game drops, it's clear Annapurna's team has a finger on the pulse for their audience. I'm excited to get my hands on the full game when it releases later this year.
If you want to check out the demo for yourself, head on over to Steam, then let us know what you think of it in the comments below. For more on People of Note and all your other gaming news, reviews, and previews, be sure to keep your dial tuned to Gaming Trend. People of Note will be available on April 7th for PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, Xbox (X|S, Windows), and Nintendo Switch 2 for $24.99 USD.
