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 Please be advised that the PDF is outdated now, but still contains information for the whole game.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 off in the Shinsengumi HQ. The commanders and captains are gathered for a meeting (with the exception of the commander himself - Kondo Isami - and the 1st and 3rd captains (Okita and Ryoma/Saito). Members are complaining about the fact the commander is never present and that it shows he's weak (he spends all his time hiding!) - the Shinsengumi is supposed to be all about strength, so one of them (9th captain - Suzuki Mikisaburo) talks about electing a new, more suitable commander. Hijikata asks him if this "more suitable commander" is himself he's speaking of. Suzuki says that's not what he was getting at, but Hijikata says he's heard that he is going to try and get his way to the top through Ito Kashitaro's influence (military advisor of the Shinsengumi - he's the one sat on the right hand side of the 3 commander seats in the pic above). Hijikata says Kondo has been central to the Shinsengumi right from the start and will always remain central. Ito mentions he's heard rumours that the commander has actually been dead for some time, which is why they never see him. Hijikata says the rumours are completely untrue and Itou says he thinks so too, but also says it's easy to see why the rumour is going round - how many of the members have actually met the commander? He himself has never even met him since he joined and he's the military advisor! Then Okita arrives, late as usual (according to Nagakura). Okita says he'd rather sleep than sit around listening to the boring conversations these guys have. Then Okita comments that the new captain hasn't shown up yet and that it's disgraceful he's so late (lol...).
Ryoma arrives and Hijikata directs him to the 3rd captain's seat. Ryoma introduces himself to his fellow captains (as "Saito Hajime - Captain of the Third Shinsengumi Unit"). The 7th captain (Tani Sanjuro) isn't happy - he only just joined yesterday and already he's a captain! Nagakura says himself and Okita tested him out and that he's fit for the role. After more arguing amongst the captains, Hijikata says Ryoma will begin his duties tomorrow and wants the 4th captain (Matsubara Chuji) to show him the ropes. But Matsubara says he too doesn't agree with Ryoma suddenly showing up and becoming a captain right away. Hijikata tells him that wasn't a request - it was an order. But then the 8th captain (Todo Heisuke) says he'll do it, saying he's a good teacher. Hijikata agrees to it and leaves Todo to show Ryoma the ropes. Hijikata then announces to the captains that Yamanami Keisuke commited seppuku (suicide by stabbing oneself in the stomach with one's sword - was used by samurai). The 10th Captain (Harada Sanosuke) isn't pleased - saying that Yamanami was one of the original members, from the Shieikan dojo in Edo. But Hijikata says it's unforgivable for anyone to abandon the Shinsengumi. He says it was the same with the like of Serizawa Kamo a year ago - all traitors to the Shinsengumi must be killed. He then calls an end to the meeting.
After the meeting, Nagakura tells Ryoma "it's always like this" - referring to Kondo Isami not being here. Ryoma then thinks to himself that Yamanami was not the guy he was looking for and that there are now 6 remaining members in the Shinsengumi who use the Tennen Rishin style - 8th Captain Todo Heisuke, 6th Captain Inoue Genzaburo, 2nd Captain Nagakura Shinpachi, 1st Captain Okita Soji, Vice Commander Hijikata Toshizo, and Commander Kondo Asami.
As you go to leave, Todo speaks to Ryoma and gives him his Shinsengumi captain outfit, telling him to wear it when he comes tomorrow.
When you leave the HQ, Ryoma comments that he should head back to Terada Inn.
[1]
When you get here Ryoma sees a Shinto Priest (the one you bump into in chapter 3), with a young girl beside him, talking to a man. The man mentions that the girl's parents left behind them a debt of 100 Ryo, which is now on the girl's shoulders, and so she has to sell the house. The girl says the house brings back memories of her parents, so she can't possibly sell it. The man says how else can she repay the debt - after all, she's just a young girl, so it's not possible for her to get hold of that kind of money. The man leaves after telling her to get her luggage ready, since the house will be sold to help pay off her debt. Then Ryoma steps in and asks what the problem is. The Shinto Priest recognises Ryoma and explains the situation to him back at the girl's house (that her parents died in an accident, leaving behind a debt of 100 Ryo which the girl now has to pay). The girl explains how important the house is to her - it's the last thing she has to remind her of her family. She then mentions that it's her fault her parents were in so much debt in the first place; she had a rare disease when she was little and the medicine was expensive, so to pay for it they had to keep loaning money, so the debt wasn't really her parents after all - it's always been HER debt. Ryoma says he will help pay back the debt she owes if he is able, so that she doesn't lose the house. They then introduce themselves - he introdues himself to the girl as "Saito Hajime" and she introduces herself to Ryoma as "Haruka".
The priest gives Ryoma a White Hairband, Leather Breastplate and Leather Gauntlet.
First thing you need to do is examine the red shrine in the garden (you can exchange Dharma here) and examine the gardening tools by the crop harvesting patch. Then you go inside the house. Examine the stove (to the right, when you enter the house), examine the door further ahead (this is the door to the bath), and examine the cupboard in the corner of the room.
You can now do the Another Life part of the game.
You can also do Chapter 4 substories.
[2]
When you get near the entrance of Terada Inn, Otose is there and welcomes Ryoma back, addressing him as "3rd captain". She sees his bag and Ryoma tells her it's his captain's uniform, so she tells him she'll look after it for him until he needs it tomorrow. She then calls for Oryo and tells her to look after Ryoma's uniform, but she refuses - saying she won't have anything to do with the outfit of muderers. Otose points out it's for Hajime, but Oryo accuses him of just being another murderer like the rest of the Shinsengumi. She runs off saying she hates murderers. Otose explains to Ryoma that Oryo's father was murdered by members of the Shogunate, because he was a supporter of the Emperor. She then says "I guess she couldn't handle the fact that the one she loves may be a murderer". Ryoma seems surprised, "She's into me?". Otose can't believe Ryoma hasn't noticed! She then asks Ryoma to go and look for her, telling him she usually goes by Kamo River when she wants to be alone.
[1]
Go here and speak to Oryo. Ryoma tells her Otose told him about the incident involving her father. She asks Ryoma why he joined the Shinsengumi - for money, to feel important, or to kill people. Ryoma tells her it's none of those - he joined because he's looking for someone. Ryoma says that in his position as captain of the 3rd unit, he has a lot of power, so he may be able to prevent the needless killing in the Shinsengumi (for the 3rd unit, at least - since he's their boss!). After this, Oryo heads back to Terada Inn. Go back to Terada Inn and Otose greets Ryoma. She tells him that while he was out, someone came here looking for him. She doesn't know who it was, but she says he was speaking with a Tosa dialect, then tells Ryoma the man said he'll be waiting for him at Kiyomizudera.
Head to Kiyomizudera. You can get to the road leading to Kiyomizudera via the bridge on the right hand side of Rakugai.
You can now do substory 66.
When you get to Kiyomizudera, Ryoma is greeted by a man. "Are you the guy who called me out here?", asks Ryoma. He says he is and introduces himself to Ryoma as "Nakaoka Shintaro", a samurai from Tosa. "Pleasure to meet you, Sakamoto Ryoma". He says he wants to talk with Ryoma. He tells Ryoma he, too, was there when Yoshida Toyo was killed - he was one of the guys who burst into the room after Toyo died, saying that both Ryoma and Takechi were there. Ryoma asks how he knows Takechi was there as well, when it was only him in the room at that time. He tells Ryoma he was Toyo's assistant and he knew about the secret that Ryoma and Takechi were coming that night. He says he can't forgive the man that killed Yoshida Toyo - Sakamoto Ryoma. Ryoma asks what he's going to do - kill him here? But Nakaoka says it was just a joke and that Sakamoto Ryoma being the killer is just the public story - but he knows the real killer is someone else. Ryoma asks who he thinks is behind it and he says Takechi Hanpeita! He points out that Takechi has gained a lot from the death of Toyo - becoming a Joshi and having an important position. That's why he's here in Kyoto - to track down Takechi. Ryoma tells him he missed one thing - before he came bursting into the room, there was another man - the masked man.
Ryoma then explains everything to Nakaoka, then Nakaoka offers to join forces to hunt down the man. After that, some members of the Tosa Loyalist Party show up looking for Nakaoka. Ryoma and Nakaoka then fight the guys from the Tosa Loyalist Party, which begins a long fight sequence in Kiyomizudera.
The yellow dots indicate items you can pick up (including a few Silver Fragments and a Straw Figure!).
[1]
When you get here, a firing squad shows up. Use the pillars as cover and either get closer to attack them close up, or poke out of cover to fire at them with your pistol.
[2]
When you get here, another firing squad shows up. There's less cover to use here this time though!
After beating all of these guys, a mini-boss appears. He's pretty easy to take down if you use the Pistol Fighting Style with the Enhanced Bullets you picked up earlier (area where the first firing squad showed up).
After all the fighting, Nakaoka says he's going to search the Shinsengumi for the killer with Ryoma and forget about Takechi for now - apparently he's returned to Tosa anyway, summoned back by Daimyo "Yamauchi Yodo". They then leave, saying they have a job to do - hunt down the masked man who killed Toyo.
When you complete this chapter, you get the "Story Clear #2" trophy.
