Sakamoto Ryoma (坂本 龍馬, Sakamoto Ryōma), also known as Saito Hajime (斎藤 一, Saitō Hajime), is the protagonist of Ryu Ga Gotoku Ishin!/Like a Dragon: Ishin!. He shares his in-game appearance with Kazuma Kiryu and is based on the real-life historical figures Sakamoto RyomaWP and Saito HajimeWP.
A ronin from Tosa looking to avenge the murder of his adoptive father Yoshida Toyo, he lives under a different name and becomes the Shinsengumi Captain of the Third Division.
Profile[]
Appearance[]
Ryoma is modeled after Kazuma Kiryu's appearance seen in Yakuza 5. He wears his medium-length black hair tied back in a topknot with a simple white hair tie.
Attire[]
At the start of the game, Ryoma wears a black kimono and gray hakama. After he leaves Tosa, his outfit changes to a gray kimono, black hakama and occasionally, the blue Shinsengumi haori.
Background[]
Ryoma was born in Tosa as a samurai of the lowest ranking class; a "gōshi" (郷士). In the midst of the chaotic uprising with other young men, he became distressed over his own aims and accomplishments. However, having the best sword skill in Tosa allowed for his swordsmanship training in Edo. With high expectations from Yoshida Toyo, along with Takechi Hanpeita, the plan for the reform of the Tosa government was in progress. However, on the night before it could be carried out, an incident occurred that changed Ryoma's life immensely.
Involvement[]
Ryu Ga Gotoku Ishin!/Like a Dragon: Ishin!: 1866-1870[]
Ryoma is seen on a boat, heading his way back home. When he got back he was walking through the crowd. However, the Joshi appeared and everyone, including Ryoma, bowed down to their appearance. But suddenly, he overheard a mother panicking because her daughter was having terrible stomach pain. The Joshi threatened the woman, however, Ryoma stopped them there and told the woman to escape. Because of his actions, he got into a fight with them and he eventually won. After the battle, the citizens started to whisper to each other that Ryoma will be punished by the government. Ryoma is enraged at the citizens telling that he knows and is willing to face it with honor.
Eventually, Ryoma is later seen in prison naked, ropes around his wrists like handcuffs, and all beaten up. A prison guard is seen talking to him and reminds of how things work around here. He reminds Ryoma that social class is more important than life. But Ryoma started to speak saying that bowing down to the Joshi is a futile practice. This got the guard enraged and he decided to kill Ryoma. Luckily, Ryoma was saved by Yoshida Toyo, his own master and foster father. Yoshida asks the man to let Ryoma go, saying that he will be the one to "kill" him before facing judgement. The man accepts and the two took their leave. Later, Yoshida and Ryoma talked with each other while explaining what changes have happened.
Ryoma later appeared at a dojo. He is greeted by none other than his oath brother, Takechi Hanpeita. Takechi introduced Ryoma and declared that he will be second-in-command in the Tosa Loyalist Party starting that day which got the others shocked.
Fighting Style[]
Ryu Ga Gotoku Ishin![]
Ryoma is a powerful combatant, skilled in both unarmed and armed combat like his modern counterpart but leaning more towards armed combat.
Brawler[]
Ryoma's brawler style (格闘, kakutō, lit. "Hand-to-Hand Fighting") is a combination of Kazuma Kiryu's Dragon of Dojima style and various karate moves, such as the ones used by Joji Kazama.
Combos[]
The Rush Combo is a left jab, a right gut punch, a left chop and a right cross. Finishers consist of the Kazama left hammer fist, a kneeling right punch, a right uppercut, and the Kazama right backfist.
Basic attacks[]
Ryoma's heavy attack and downed attack are Kiryu's front kick and stomp. His running attack is Daigo's flying knee attack from Yakuza 4 and 5. He does not have any quickstep attacks.
Grab attacks[]
From a grab, Ryoma has Kiryu's 3 follow-ups: light attack has him punch the enemy thrice, heavy attack has him side-kick them away and grab has him use an Ippon seoi nage on them.
Blocking, dodging and reversals[]
Ryoma has Kiryu's grab reversal throw, but nothing else, not even a get-up attack.
Counterattacks[]
Ryoma can do the Komaki Tiger Drop. He also uses Masayoshi Tanimura's parry instead of the Komaki Parry, which additionally offers him temporary invincibility on a successful parry.
Special attacks[]
This style's special move, "Dragon Wing", is a command grab right overhead punch leading to an extremely fast and powerful barrage of punches (left jab, right jab, left hook, right hook, left gut punch, right gut punch, left rib punch, right rib punch) that ends with either another right overhead punch, a lift-and-throw, Kiryu's Dragon Spirit elbow lock-and-throw from Yakuza 5 or a Heat Action where Ryoma brutally punches the opponent's lower jaw.
Heat Actions[]
Most of Ryoma's Heat Actions in this style are Kiryu's Heat Actions, such as the face stomp, the kick-away and all terrain-dependant Heat Actions, and even an Akiyama Heat Action (guard break reversal face kick). However, he does have some unique Heat Actions, such as: one where he punches an opponent twice (can be followed up with either him headbutting the opponent, jumping and slamming their head or swinging them into other enemies), Essence of Dried Plum, where he stuffs an enemy's face with dried plums and kicks them away as they reel in disgust, and Essence of Sumo Slapping: Ryoma can quickly close the distance between an enemy and catch them off guard with an open handed right slap, launching them into the air. This is followed by a left slap, a left backhand slap, and a final left slap that leaves the enemy on the ground.
Swordsman[]
Ryoma's swordsman style (一刀, ittō, lit. "One-Sword") is his slowest and most powerful style. He wields a single katana and uses the Hokushin Itto-ryu swordfighting style, and assumes a hassō-no-kamaeWP but with his blade tilted down. He can also learn some moves from other bosses.
Combos[]
The Rush Combo is a diagonal left slash, a right sidewards slash, a downwards slash and an upwards slash. Finishers consist of a reverse right slash, a forward stab, a left overhead slash and a diagonal downwards slash.
This style's finishers can be charged; upon charging the finishers become the following: a sweeping reverse right slash, a charging right overhead stab, a jumping slash and a double upward slash (the last finisher can be followed up with a falling slash).
Basic attacks[]
Ryoma's heavy attack is a right-handed stab, and holding the heavy attack button has him charge forward and do the same attack. His running attack is a reverse spinning slash similar to Yoshioka Seijuro's spinning slash. His downed attack is a stomp. His quickstep attacks consist of: a stab, a quick slash, a reverse right slash and a right diagonal slash.
Grab attacks[]
Ryoma cannot grab in this style. Pressing the grab button has him do a double upward slash instead. Holding the grab button will have him rush forward, stab the enemy's stomach and throw them overhead.
He also has 3 special attacks associated with the grab button, those being: Nagakura's double slash combo, the generic Tennen Rishin-ryu triple stab combo, and Okita's charged stab.
Blocking, dodging and reversals[]
If attacked while blocking, Ryoma can retaliate by hitting the opponent with the hilt of his sword, stunning them and leaving them open to attack.
Counterattacks[]
This style has one counterattack, where Ryoma rapidly slashes an approaching opponent. It also has a parry, which has a chance of disarming the enemy.
Special attacks[]
This style's special move, "Flash of the Dragon's Fang", is a very fast long-range slash-and-stab combo in which Ryoma can go from enemy to enemy in quick succession while doing this move. It also has a variant, available if the grab button is pressed instead of the light attack button, where Ryoma does a spinning slash.
Heat Actions[]
Most of this style's Heat Actions are Miyamoto Musashi's single-sword Heat Actions from Kenzan!, such as the downed stab and the double slash (and follow-ups). There are, however, many unique ones as well, such as: one triggered from his guard reversal where he holds the sword against an enemy's stomach and slashes it open, one where he jumps off of an enemy and slashes two others while falling through the air, and one where he cuts a bullet with his blade and slashes whoever shot at him.
Gunman[]
Ryoma's gunman style (短銃, tanjū, lit. "Pistol") is a simplistic style wherein he wields a single pistol and uses it to shoot opponents.
Combos[]
Ryoma does not have a Rush Combo in this style. Pressing light attack has him shoot once. This attack can be repeated endlessly.
All finishers in this style are rapid-fire circular gunshots.
Basic attacks[]
Ryoma's heavy attack is a targeted shot.
Grab attacks[]
From a grab, Ryoma can press the light and heavy attack buttons to shoot at the enemy once, putting them to the ground.
Blocking, dodging and reversals[]
Ryoma can dodge and shoot rapidly.
Special attacks[]
This style's special move, "Flaming Dragon", allows Ryoma to slow down time and select a number of targets on an opponent's body or on multiple opponents, and then fire at all points very rapidly.
Heat Actions[]
Ryoma's Heat Actions are mostly unique, but some are old Heat Actions followed up with new moves. Among others, he can: stamp on an enemy's face and fire at their abdomen twice, force them to a wall and fire into their stomach, slide kick an opponent to send them flying and fire twice at them in this state, trip kick an enemy and fire into their stomach, and quickdraw and fire at an opponent behind himself.
Wild Dancer[]
Ryoma's wild dancer style (乱舞, ranbu) is his fastest and least defensive style, greatly suited for dealing with crowds. He wields a sword and a gun at the same time, and slashes and shoots at great speed, leaving his opponents unable to react in time.
Combos[]
The Rush Combo (which can be looped infinitely) is 5 continuous slashes, and all finishers are targeted shots. Uniquely, this style's finishers function via light-heavy combos (i.e. instead of simply pressing heavy attack after a Rush Combo, the Rush Combo hits are interspersed with heavy attacks, which are targeted shots).
Basic attacks[]
Ryoma's heavy attack is a gunshot, which can be repeatedly used like Gun style's light attack, though it shoots slower. By using the directional button, he can also shoot in any direction. His running attack is a quick triple slash, and his downed attack is a stomp.
Grab attacks[]
Ryoma cannot grab in this style. However, the grab button can be pressed thrice for 3 wide-ranging slashes and shots. These followups can also be done during his Rush Combo.
Blocking, dodging and reversals[]
Ryoma can guard and dodge right before an enemy attacks. He can quickstep cancel any of his sword attacks, and also pirouette and shoot similar to Kazuto Arase. Due to this being his least defensive style, he has no reversals.
Counterattacks[]
Ryoma has no counterattacks in this style.
Special attacks[]
This style's special move, "Wild Dance of the Divine Dragon", is a continuously spinning slash-and-shoot resembling Goro Majima's helicopter rotor spinning slash from Yakuza 4.
Heat Actions[]
Most of this style's Heat Actions are long combination attacks. Ryoma can: throw his sword into an enemy's stomach and jump off of it while fancily firing at them; stab a downed enemy and immediately follow up with a gunshot; parry a sword-wielding enemy with the barrel of his pistol, get behind them and slash and shoot their back; slide under an enemy, jump up with a slash and follow up with two gunshots; deliver a left push kick to an enemy, throw his gun up and slash the enemy twice, catch the gun and fire at them; and shoot an enemy from a distance, jump and slash them, and end with either a left wheel kick or stab the enemy's stomach and jump and right push kick them away.
Ryoma can quickstep only once and follow up with Dharma Tumbler in all 4 of his styles. His aura is saturated blue, and red when he does a special move.
Like a Dragon: Ishin![]
Ryoma plays almost identically to the original Ishin!, with the addition of being able to use Battle Dungeon cards in normal battle. However, there are a few differences; Gunman shoots slower while strafing, and Ryoma can no longer dodge roll in every style, being exclusive to Brawler. The invincibility duration from Brawler's parry is also severely shortened.
Trivia[]
- Ryoma's starting katana, Yoshiyuki, is modeled after what was thought to be the real Ryoma's favorite katana, the Mutsunokami-Yoshiyuki.
- Ryoma only has one battle theme for street encounters, "Four Unrestful Flowers"; however, a different variation of the song plays depending on which style is being used.
Gallery[]
Ryu Ga Gotoku Ishin![]
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Like a Dragon: Ishin![]
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Ryu Ga Gotoku Online[]
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![KSR [Dragon of Tosa] Sakamoto Ryoma (Ishin Kiwami)](/wiki/File:RGGO_-_Card_-_KSR_Sakamoto_Ryoma_(Ishin_Kiwami).png "RGGO - Card - KSR Sakamoto Ryoma (Ishin Kiwami).png (383 KB)")
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