People of Note Reviews
As a gaming experience and sensory stimulation, People of Note does get to satisfy; the real issue lies in the uninteresting, overlooked and empty story the gameplay tries to sustain. To Brazilian eyes, the text gets even worse with a just as poorly done localisation to our language. Those who wish to venture into Note and meet a genuinely well-crafted RPG will have to endure several issues.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The overlap between gamers and musical fans may be small, but those in that group will likely love People of Note. It succeeds as a fun game while also delivering engaging musical numbers that stick with players.Repetitive grunt battles and some camera issues do weigh the experience down, but they don't spoil the overall production. People of Note still marches to the beat of its own drum, and the result is a game all music lovers should experience.
I should be much more excited about a game that pays homage to games and pop culture, but odd decisions here and there really keep me from wholeheartedly recommending People of Note. The music is great, and the game is pretty frictionless with everything it expects you to do. I really wish People of Note’s verbosity were more focused on the story or even on helping me learn something about music, as this is a rich world with plenty of stories to tell. With the most egregious bugs fixed, I definitely think if you’re here for the journey of these musicians or are hankering for a strangely old-school turn-based RPG, making it to the very special end credits will be worth it.
People of Note is a great mash-up of the people behind music. Music may have divided the people of Note, yet it also slowly brings them all together for a brighter, more rockin’ future.
People of Note is a very good musical adventure that shines brightest through its lavish musical segments and tense boss battles.
Review in Unknown | Read full review
People of Note is a turn-based music RPG that combines Kpop Demon Hunters, Rock of Ages, Persona, Final Fantasy, and Expedition 33: an original and fun crossover, although it fails to rise to the ranks of the genre's great experimenters due to obvious structural and pacing limitations. Accompanying Cadence as she searches for her band members, we experience a fantasy adventure exploring different musical genres, including explosive duets, environmental puzzles, and mysterious characters. The graphic style and character designs are exquisite, as are the songs. The turn-based combat, however, is more based on numbers than on music and rhythm. The game has style, but it should be taken for what it is: an indie title that will allow you to while away several hours of fun without too many expectations.
Review in Italian | Read full review
People of Note earns its applause through sheer conviction. Its voice acting is excellent, its musical numbers genuinely memorable, and its combat has just enough tactical rhythm to keep things lively. What stops it from reaching higher is an RPG backbone that never feels quite as rich or rewarding as the show built around it.
People of Note is a joyously musical RPG, with timing-based combat that keeps getting better and a wonderful world to explore.
People of Note is an ambitious project from a small team. With its focus on music genres, engaging story, and colorful world, it also appeals to players unfamiliar with turn-based action. However, the gameplay can become repetitive over time, which may diminish the overall experience. While it has clear potential, it is better suited for those seeking a simpler, music- and puzzle-focused experience rather than a deep turn-based one.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
In People of Note, the world and its characters are built around different musical genres, giving them unique identities. But its 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.
People of Note has many gameplay elements that reminds me of games I’ve played before: the campy narrative style, the stylishly drawn characters, pun-filled world, turn based battle, and musical cutscenes. However, everything about People of Note feels new, refreshing, and fun; elements that have been remixed into its own style. You can tell how much love Iridium Studios put into their game. While it could use some fine tuning before it can be a masterpiece, this is a beat that you shouldn’t miss. I highly recommend it!
People of Note tries to do a lot – a video game-musical, with turn based combat, a world of musical references and plenty of dungeons and puzzles. Some of that is pretty great. Alas, the gameplay felt to me like a track stuck on repeat, and the story didn’t quite have enough going for it to be truly worth the journey. This is one album I won’t be playing again any time soon.
People of Note is a surprisingly fun and adept RPG. Between the excellent use of music, the endearing cast, flexible battle system, and memorable locations, it's a surprise hit that I didn't expect to love as nearly as much as I did. It's pretty clear Iridium Studios knows what it wants to make with People of Note, and it's got a lot of clever, music-themed levels, catchy tunes, and fun battles to offer. However, it's a lean RPG with little to do outside the main story, which is a surprise given that it mimics many familiar RPGs in many ways. Don't let that deter you, though. People of Note is the real deal.
People of Note is a musically themed RPG that shines brightest in its worldbuilding, humor and characterful music videos. Its genre‑based setting is clever and consistently entertaining, but the turn‑based combat never fully embraces the rhythm‑game twist the premise promises. While the story and presentation offer charm, the repetitive battles and uneven mechanics keep the adventure from reaching its full potential.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
While it’s certainly an odd pitch, happily, its novel, refreshing take on turn-based RPGs delivers on every front. The combat is deliberate and tightly designed, while its story strikes chords both hilarious and touching. All the while, bright, eye-catching visuals jazz up the experience, and the soundtrack harmoniously ties it all together, making for a well-paced, impressive, and highly original adventure.
People of Note is an original RPG that cleverly combines music and gameplay.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
I really liked People of Note, and I hope Iridium Studios can get a bigger budget for their next game because if they decide to stick with this kind of JRPG-inspired game in the future, it could be a real banger. This is a solid first try, but I think the difficulty of the puzzles and overly drawn-out boss battles will make people quit, even if you can skip almost anything remotely difficult. If I didn't have to review this game, I would've abandoned it because I felt like the game didn't respect my time.