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 Please be advised that the PDF is outdated now, but still contains information for the whole game.
The chapter starts with Ryoma talking with Kondo. Kondo tells him time is running out - it's not long until the country's "self-destruction" - and says this other "Sakamoto Ryoma" came to Kyoto to pull the trigger to kick off the war to overthrow the Shogunate. His movements up until now have always been to kick of the war and there is now an alliance between Satsuma (Saigo) and Choshu (Katsura) with the objective of taking down the Shogunate. However, in this case, it wasn't the fake Ryoma which caused this alliance - it was the real Ryoma! Turns out Saigo and Katsura put their differences aside after that night with Ryoma. The fake Ryoma showed up in Kyoto to try to encourage them, by passing over loads of weapons brought in from England. Apparently military preparations are already being made and Kondo says when the fighting begins, it will be the bloodiest battle since Sekigahara (if you played Kenzan, you'll know all about this battle)! Kondo says he's going to have to make a move now, putting his plan into action - They have to burn down the capital and prevent the war from happening. Ryoma points out so many people will die - not just samurai, but women and children too. Kondo tells Ryoma a lot more people will die if the war breaks out. Ryoma suggest making the Shogunate surrunder to the Satsuma/Choshu alliance, saying there won't have to be a war then. At first Kondo thinks Ryoma's mad to suggest that the Shogunate, who have controlled the country for nearly 300 years, would just surrender, but then thinks it may be a possibility - that the Shogun might surrender power to the Emperor. If he were to do that, then Satsuma and Choshu would have no reason to start the war. He tells Ryoma he should speak with the Shogun face-to-face about the issue, saying he believes Ryoma is the only man who would be able to convince him. He asks Ryoma if he's willing to put his life on the line for the sake of the country and sneak into to Edo castle to confront the Shogun himself. Ryoma says he's willing to do it, even though the chances of him returning alive are next to impossible! Before he goes Ryoma says he wants to speak with Yamazaki, because of his ties with this fake Ryoma, but Kondo says Yamazaki was killed last night in the storehouse at the HQ! Apparently he was killed by someone to ensure he wouldn't go talking about this fake Sakamoto Ryoma and his true identity.
Go to the Shinsengumi HQ. When you enter, 10th captain Harada speaks to Ryoma, asking if he's heard about what happened to Yamazaki. He's angry that such a thing happened within the HQ itself and says that once again the Shinsengumi are being made to look like fools. He tells Ryoma that Todo is investigating the area right now and that he should go over also.
[1]
Go into the storeroom and Ryoma sees Yamazaki's body being carried away. Todo tells Ryoma he was attacked from behind, then adds that Yamazaki was the kind of guy who was weary of his surroundings, so it must have been someone who was able to drop his guard - such as one of the leading members of the Shinsengumi.
After leaving the building, Ryoma supposes the fake Ryoma must have a spy who is a leading member of the Shinsengumi. Ryoma says he should head over to Terada Inn and get rest.
On your way back, Hijikata talks to Ryoma and asks about what he discussed with Kondo and tells him to inform him when Kondo tells him anything from now on. But Ryoma says he's not going to leak info out to other people and if he wants to know about Kondo and his plans, he should go and ask him personally.
When you leave the HQ, Okita speaks with Ryoma and tells him he's going to come along with him to Edo castle - he can't let Ryoma have all the fun on his own! He tells Ryoma he'll meet with him at Terada Inn when it's time to leave.
Go back to Terada Inn and Ryoma speaks with Otose. Choose the BOTTOM OPTION to proceed in the story, or the TOP OPTION if you're not ready to go to Edo castle just yet. Note that there is a massive fight sequence at Edo castle and you'll really want to have plenty of health items and such, so don't go unprepared!
While Ryoma is in his room, Oryo enters. Ryoma tells her he's going off to Edo tomorrow and cannot return until his work is complete. He also mentions that he may not get back alive.
The next day, Ryoma leaves Terada Inn and meets Okita, who has a letter to the Shogun from Kondo. They then head off to Edo castle via boat. On the boat, Okita and Ryoma are trying to read the letter Kondo wrote, but they can't read all the kanji. Okita asks someone who is also travelling on the boat if he is able to read it and he tells them it concerns the Tokugawa Shogunate surrendering their power to the Imperial court. He continues to read the letter, saying there are 7 demands intended for the Imperial court after they receive power, designed for the rebuilding of the country. Okita suggests to Ryoma they should add another demand - after all, they are the ones delivering the letter. Ryoma suggests the addition of a demand of equality (no more Joshi - Goshi social classes).
At Edo castle, Ryoma approaches the gates and tells them he's here to see the 15th Shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu. After Okita blasts open the gates with a cannon, the two of them enter the castle and a long fight sequence begins.
[1]
When you get here, a firing squad appears, so use the stone walls as cover.
[2]
When you get here, they bring out a couple of cannon and fire at you. Use the cover in the area for protection, but watch out because the cannon will destroy the pillars after a couple of hits!
[3]
After defeating the enemies in this area, use the cannon to take out the group of guys that appear. After defeating that wave of enemies, another group appears and you use the cannon again to take them out. After defeating 3 waves of enemies, you can proceed.
[4]
There are a series of spiked floors in this area, so be careful (stand right at the edge, then as soon as the final spikes go away, roll forward and you should be able to avoid taking any hits, if you time it right).
[5]
When you get to this area, a load of ninja appear. After defeating all of them, attack the RED square on the wall to open up a passageway.
[6]
This passageway is deadly, because there are spikes on the ground AND arrows firing at you from the other side! If you stand right up against the wall as close as you can (either side) the arrows should miss you (it worked for me, at least), then just avoid the spikes in the same way you did in the previous passageway.
[7]
When you get here, you'll fight an armoured ninja as well as another group of regular ninja. Using acid bullets to destroy his armour will be helpful! After this fight, the ceiling will start coming down on Ryoma and Okita. Attack the RED square on the wall before time runs out to open up a passageway. After this, you split up with Okita and proceed alone.
[8]
When you enter this area, you fight yet another group of ninja. After defeating all the ninja, you can proceed.
[9]
Enter the room here to trigger the next part of the story.
Ryoma meets the Shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu and the two of them fight.
After the fight, Ryoma tells him about his intention to prevent a war breaking out and hands over the letter from Kondo.
Several days later, in Kyoto, we see Katsu Rintaro talking with someone and he mentions about the Tokugawa Shogunate relinquishing power, saying now Katsura and Saigo have no excuse to start a war against the Shogunate. He tells the other man that the man responsible is Saito Hajime from the Shinsengumi and says "We don't need 2 Sakamoto Ryomas, right, 'Sakamoto'?" and "The time has come to use the Shinsengumi".
