Meiji Ishin

Meiji Ishin is a game of 2 genres. In the first half, you play as Sakamoto Ryōma in an adventure game. Sakamoto is on a mission to form an alliance against the Tokugawa shogunate, all while being hunted by samurai sent by the shogun. This involves a lengthy amount of dialogue with NPCs and travelling between regions. While talking to NPCs, you see them through Sakamoto's first person view. While travelling on the road, you view the trip from behind Sakamoto's back. The adventure segment has a combat system when you encounter samurai on the road. In combat, you can only get an opportunity to attack when an opening is revealed on your opponent, represented by a red bubble, and you have until it bursts to strike. Whether you deal damage or not is determined by whether the constantly-shifting highlight on your damage wheel is on the large or small octant at the strike time. Conversely, a green bubble signifies an incoming enemy attack, which you also have until it bursts to defend against.

In the second half, you play a turn-based strategy game. Starting out in 1853, historical Tosa Province, your goal is to expand to the rest of Shikoku, Kyushu and western Honshu. This part of the game plays out in turns on both the strategic map and the tactical map. On the strategic map, your interactions involve giving orders such as conscript and train troops, mine coal, trade and declare war. The tactical battle in this part of the game can last up to 30 turns, during which you don't have to defeat all enemies to win, only the regiment defending the fortress. You have until 1880 to achieve victory in the strategic campaign.