The other thing worth mentioning, is that if you play Kabuki den before Manjimaru, M' won't seem as impressive aesthetically or story-wise.
I beat Kabuki first, and I agree with this to an extent. But really, both of these games are absolutely loaded with memorable moments. Manji is more traditional, but it definitely has some shocking stuff. Ziria's the only one I'd worry about as far as story and aesthetics go (though I personally dig Ziria's darker visuals).
I just never connected to Manjimaru on an emotional level like I did with Kabuki den. Maybe it's because so many people casually die throughout the game and the cop out ending.
Overall, it just felt like quantity over quality and light hearted compared to Kabuki den. Where as Kabuki den still has a huge effect on me to this day.
Manjjimaru's soundtrack may be great classic PCE music, but Kabuki den's is in a class by itself and has a major impact on the game.
But that scene in Manjimaru at the ice palace is pretty effing cool.
Although, I was mainly cheering it on, like "yeaaah!', where as the volcano'y scene with Okuni left me speechless.
Unless you can't handle Ziria's graphic style, in which case definately save it for last if it'd deter you from playing the others.
I'd be more concerned about the slow start than the graphic style with Ziria. I seem to remember Grahf saying he felt Cosmic Fantasy 2 was tedious at the beginning, and Ziria's early going is even slower if anything. The battle system annoyed me until I powered up a bit and gained some decent allies.
Ziria's battles are what hooked
me right away. I'd definately rank them above Manjimaru's bland same non-background in every fight, hold-down-the-button-with-the-turbo-switch-on, running so fast across the countryside that you enter fights so frequently, battles.
The bg art and animated enemies make a huge difference. Which makes it weird that they got rid of them for their Super CD showpiece(plus isn't the series supposed to be the CD anwer to DQ?). Again, if TMII got rid of the overworld running and shrunk the maps, I think it would be funner.
