Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin (released in Japan in February 2014) is a spin-off game set at the end of the Edo period of Japanese history (known as the Bakumatsu period), a period when the Tokugawa Shogunate came to an end and imperial rule was restored (Meiji Restoration).
Sakamoto Ryoma is living undercover, with a false identity, as "Saito Hajime" in Kyoto. One year earlier, on the eve of the coup d'état of Tosa, Ryoma's foster father, the man who raised him, was murdered before his eyes. The only lead he had to discover who the killer was is that he used the Tennen Rishin style of fighting. This is a style used by the Shinsengumi, so Ryoma infiltrates their ranks, becoming captain of the 3rd Shinsengumi unit, in attempt to find the killer.
Big thanks to Kevin Debrabandere for creating a PDF for the entire Ishin guide. You can download the PDF version of the guide here. Please be advised that the PDF is outdated now, but still contains information for the whole game.
[1]
Go here and Ryoma hears a cry for help. A newspaper seller approaches Ryoma and says he's being pursued. Some Ishin-Shishi show up and fight Ryoma.
After the fight, they run off and the newspaper seller says "You're Saito Hajime, the captain of the 3rd Shinsengumi unit, aren't you!?". The man asks Ryoma if he'll let him interview him. The man thanks Ryoma (even though he didn't actually say he accepts!) and says he'll make preparations for the interview, saying he'll be waiting for Ryoma outside the Shinsengumi HQ.
[2]
Go here and Ryoma sees the newspaper seller being confronted by a Shinsengumi soldier. The man explains that Ryoma is going to meet him there, but the soldier says there's no way this guy is acquainted with the 3rd captain! Ryoma steps in and tells the soldier the man is telling the truth. They then proceed with the interview.
Before they begin, he explains that the interview is to get the dirt on the Shinsengumi - he doesn't believe the Shinsengumi are as bad as the rumours suggest (with the whole "Wolves of Mibu" thing and all). He then asks Ryoma a series of questions.
He first asks Ryoma about killing people, something the Shinsengumi is known for. Choose the BOTTOM OPTION. Ryoma says it is the duty of a Shinsengumi soldier, but he doesn't like killing people - he will only kill in unavoidable situations.
Next, he asks Ryoma for a message to the Ishin-Shishi. Choose the BOTTOM OPTION. Ryoma says "don't make your mothers cry" and they should hurry back to their home towns and be good sons.
Next, he asks Ryoma about his taste in women. Choose the TOP OPTION. Ryoma says someone with whom he is compatible.
Next, he asks Ryoma what the Shinsengumi is to him. Choose the TOP OPTION. Ryoma says it's a waypoint to being the strongest and the men here continue to reach greater heights.
Finally, he asks Ryoma what people on the streets must do to deal with being watched by Shinsengumi members. Choose the TOP OPTION. Ryoma says so long as you have a clear conscience you have nothing to worry about.
After the interview, he thanks Ryoma and rewards him with a Dragon Eye. You are also rewarded with 300 Dharma.
You can do this at the start of Chapter 7
You can only start this substory at Noon or Evening
[1]
Go near here and Ryoma hears two men talking about a rumour that the ghost of a warior appears here every night.
Return here at night time (progress through the main story a bit more). Ryoma sees the ghost that the men were talking about earlier. The ghost challenges Ryoma to a fight and Ryoma accepts.
After Ryoma wins, the warrior praises Ryoma's skills saying it's been a long time since he lost a fight! Ryoma asks if he really is a ghost. The warrior says of course he isn't! Ryoma talks about the rumour of a ghost and the warrior says he comes by here every night because tough guys often pass through and he wants to challenge them to fights - he had no idea about the rumour of a ghost. The warrior says he'll stop coming here from now on, now that he's had the good feeling of a loss. Apparently he's a well-known warrior and had never experienced a proper loss - only losses he had were when opponents used unfair means such as outnumbering him 10-to-1. He wanted to experience a fair loss, so he went around searching for great fighters. He said he was worried he'd never find a fighter tougher than he is, but thanks to Ryoma he's achieved his objective. As the warrior leaves, he drops something. Ryoma picks up the Koi Amulet, but when he tries to give it back the warrior is gone. You are rewarded with 350 Dharma.
You can do this at the start of Chapter 7
You can only do this at Noon
[1]
Go here and Ryoma hears a guy telling another guy that he's heard there's a "Black Ship" near here.
Leave the area and then return to this area Ryoma sees a crowd of people. They see a black ship with a foreigner aboard and think he's come here to kill them all. Ryoma asks the man who he is, but he collapses to the ground, saying he's seasick. Ryoma wonders what could cure him of his seasickness and says he should ask around.
Talk to the onlooker near this area and he tells Ryoma he's heard a good way to get rid of seasickness is drinking.
Talk to the foreigner again and choose the TOP OPTION to take him for a drink.
Sadly, that didn't rid him of his seasickness, so Ryoma says he should ask around again for more ideas.
[2]
Talk to the onlooker here and she tells Ryoma she's heard exercise is a good way to get rid of seasickness.
Talk to the foreigner again and choose the TOP OPTION to give him training. You now fight the foreigner at the dojo.
Sadly, that didn't help him either, so Ryoma says he should ask around again.
[3]
Talk to the onlooker here and he tells Ryoma he's heard eating dried plums helps with seasickness. If you don't have a Dried Plum in your inventory, you can buy one from location 4 on the map above - Ichikuraya.
When you have a Dried Plum, go back to the foreigner and choose the TOP OPTION to give him the plum.
This worked and he is now rid of his seasickness! He thanks Ryoma for his help, then Ryoma asks why he came here in the first place. He says he came here to open up the country to the west for foreign trade. He introduces himself to Ryoma as "Mushu Pony" (not sure why they didn't just use the name "Matthew Perry", since that's who this guy is supposed to be - he even looks exactly like the real Matthew Perry). He says the first thing he wants to bring back over to the west is Dried Plums, saying they don't have anything like that where he's from! Ryoma shows him where he can buy them from, then Pony thanks him, but then some guys show up to confront him. They are more guys who hate foreigners and want them away from the country. A fight against them begins.
After the fight, Pony gives Ryoma a Precision Machine, then heads off on his boat. You are also rewarded with 350 Dharma.
