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 Please be advised that the PDF is outdated now, but still contains information for the whole game.
First, an explanation of the chapter title: The Shinsengumi, when first formed, were originally known as the "Miburo" because they were the "roshi" or "ronin" (samurai with no masters / samurai not attached to any domain / "wandering samurai") of "Mibu" (Mibu was the suburb in Kyoto where they were based). Due to their violence, they eventually came to be known as the "Wolves of Mibu", which is also read the exact same way - "Miburo" - so it was just a play on words. This nickname stuck with them and "Wolves of Mibu" was basically just another name for "Shinsengumi".
The chapter starts off with Ryoma back in Fushimi, talking with Oryo outside of Terada Inn. She is shouting at Ryoma, "Are you stupid or something!?". Otose comes out and asks what's going on. Oryo tells her that Ryoma is planning to join the Shinsengumi. Otose asks Ryoma why the sudden decision, after all he's been idly sitting around every day! He tells her that he's heard the Shinsengumi have a lot of power and he'll be well paid. Otose refers to the Shinsengumi as "The Wolves of Mibu", leading to an explanation of the name (see above for details). She explains about how the Shinsengumi was originally 2 factions (well, in real life there was 3 factions but one was very short lived so I guess it doesn't have to be mentioned) - The faction led by Kondo Isami and the faction lead by Serizawa Kamo. Serizawa Kamo and his faction was killed by Kondo Isami's faction - Kondo wanted the other faction out of the way so he'd have control. Ryoma then sets off, but Oryo stops him telling him he should just find a normal job instead, but Ryoma has made up his mind and tells Oryo and Otose that he won't cause any trouble for them or the Inn. After that, Ryoma says to himself he should make his way over to Rakunai, where he'll find the Shinsengumi HQ.
You can now do Chapter 3 substories, as well as the Wanted Men missions.
You can also do training with Ginryu, William Bradley and the Scarecrow Mansion.
You can also visit the blacksmith.
[1]
Go here and Ryoma overhears a couple of guys talking about Okita, captain of the 1st Shinsengumi unit - one says he's heard that Okita is a very handsome man and that lots of woman flock to the headquarters so they can see him! Go on through to Mibu.
[2]
Head to the Shinsengumi HQ. At the entrance, one of the guys asks what is his business here and Ryoma tells him he wants to join the Shinsengumi. He tells Ryoma there are try-outs going on ahead and he can go ahead and join in. Just as Ryoma is about to go in, the man asks where Ryoma lives, but Ryoma doesn't answer, saying he heard that so long as one has the skill then no questions are asked about ones life/background. But the man says that's not what he was getting at - he just wanted to know where to send his body if he dies. Turns out these try-outs are serious business! Ryoma says he isn't going to die, so he doesn't need to tell him.
Ryoma goes on ahead and sees Nagakura Shinpachi testing out people who have arrived with the hopes of joining the Shinsengumi. After Nagakura defeats the other swordsman, he asks who wants to go next. Ryoma steps up. Ryoma said he's worried and Nagakura says if that's the case, he should just leave now. But Ryoma says what he's worried about it accidently killing him and getting disqualified! Nagakura mentions he's the captain of the 2nd Shinsengumi unit and introduces himself to Ryoma. Before they begin their fight, Ryoma asks if he's been in the Shinsengumi long. He says he was - in fact he was with them before the Shinsengumi was even formed. As Nagakura readies himself, Ryoma recognises his posture as the Tennen Rishin style. Then the boss fight against Nagakura Shinpachi begins.
After the fight, Nagakura says he never knew there was anyone who could stand up to his Tennen Rishin style. He tells Ryoma he's passed the try-outs and that he has the necessary ability to survive in the Shinsengumi. This is why they have such rough try-outs here - so they can see if they have what it takes to survive as a member of the Shinsengumi. Ryoma then comments on Nagakura's Tennen Rishin, saying he's good but he's not the man he's looking for. He then says to Nagakura he'd like to spar with other founding members (because they use the Tennen Rishin style also). After Ryoma introduces himself (as "Saito Hajime") Nagakura is about to shake his hand, but then Okita interrupts. He introduces himself to Ryoma as Okita Soji - captain of the first Shinsengumi unit. Ryoma says he's a lot different to what he's heard - he said he heard Okita is a handsome guy! Okita tells Nagakura that he was too soft in the try-outs, but Nagakura says there's no need to go all out - they just need to see if they have what it takes and that he has no interest in killing any of them (unlike Okita). Okita goes on to attack Ryoma, who blocks the attack. Nagakura asks what he thinks he's doing - after all, the try-out is over - But Okita wants to test him out for a little bit himself, telling Ryoma that his Tennen Rishin style is unique. Okita pins Ryoma down and says he wins, but Nagakura says it's a stalemate. Turns out Ryoma was positioned for a killing blow also, so neither of them won. Then Hijikata Toshizo - Vice Commander of the Shinsengumi - appears and tells them to stop. He introduces himself to Ryoma, then helps him up. He says he saw him go up against Nagakura and Okita and that he's going to offer him something, but he can't do it there, so he asks Ryoma to meet him at a restaurant in Gion called "Tsubakiro" tonight. Ryoma says he'll be there, then Hijikata leaves.
After Okita leaves, Nagakura apologies for his behaviour. Ryoma says he'd love to have a proper fight against him one day. Nagakura asks what Ryoma thought of Okita's Tennen Rishin style and Ryoma says he didn't get to see it properly, but that "it's possible" (meaning possibly the killer he's looking for)... "What are you talking about?" asks Nagakura. Ryoma says he was just thinking "it's possible" for him to beat Okita. Nagakura says if Okita went all out, he'd just put a hole through him, "just like Kamo". Of course, he's talking about Serizawa Kamo. Ryoma asks if Okita was the one who killed him, but Nagakura says it's better for him not to know about this sort of thing.
After that, a Shinsengumi member leads Ryoma to his room in the Shinsengumi HQ. You can use this room in the same way you can use your room in Terada Inn.
Leave the room and Ryoma comments that the sun has gone down, so he should head over to Gion.
On your way to the Gion gates, a Shinto Priest talks to Ryoma, who says he's heading to his shrine (top left of the Rakunai map) and he'd be happy if Ryoma paid him a visit when he has the time.
[1]
Go into Tsubakiro in Gion (TOP OPTION) and Ryoma meets with Hijikata. Ryoma notices there is no seat there for him, but Hijikata says "don't worry; I have prepared a seat elsewhere for you". Hijikata says he's heard Ryoma is interested in the Tennen Rishin style, commenting that there aren't many people who know of the style (after all, it was exclusively taught in a specific dojo in Edo to only a select group of people). Hijikata then introduces a man dressed in white into the room, who according to Hijikata is also a master of the Tennen Rishin style, like Okita and Nagakura, and tells Ryoma he wants the two of them to have a fight to the death! He tells Ryoma to be in the Shinsengumi, you have to be able to kill - if you hesitate to kill your opponent, then you'll be the one who ends up killed. Hijikata is worried about the weakness of Ryoma's heart, which is why he wants to try him out in a real fight to the death. A fight against the man in white begins.
After the fight, Ryoma is about to strike the killing blow but stops, saying the fight is over. As Ryoma is walking away, Hijikata kills the man in white, saying he told Ryoma it wasn't over until either him or the man in white was dead. Hijikata says the man in white was prepared for death - apparently he had been plotting to abandon the Shinsengumi a few days ago, but instead of killing him Hijikata instead thought he could use him to test out Ryoma. Ryoma asks who the man was and Hijikata tells him he's Yamanami Keisuke - general secretary of the Shinsengumi and also captain of the third Shinsengumi unit. Hijikata told Yamanami that if he could kill Ryoma, his life would be spared. Hijikata then talks about the offer for him that he mentioned back at the Shinsengumi HQ - he wants Ryoma to take the seat of the third captain of the Shinsengumi unit (this was the seat he had prepared, that he mentioned earlier).
