I honestly have to wonder if some of the more negative reviews here are based on the newer iteration of the Basilisk series from 2018, the Ouka Scrolls. That version is honestly terrible, uninteresting, and frankly, not worth anyone's time.
But this version, the 2005 Kouga Scrolls series, is solid. While I wouldn't add it to my short list of exceptional anime series, it is a very good one. In contrast to the later series, this one is absolutely worth the watch. At 24 episodes, it's also not too much of an investment.
The storyline is interesting enough, and marries feudal Japanese history with fantasy elements. The characters each have rather unorthodox ninpou techniques, which you learn as the series goes on. They aren't exactly your typical fighting techniques or scenes, so if you need a typical chanbara anime, you might be slightly disappointed in that regard. But the plot keeps your attention, the characters are interesting, the fighting scenes are worth watching, and the artwork (for the time) can be beautiful. I'm personally a big fan of anime series set in feudal Japan with ninja and/or samurai elements, and this fits the bill for me.
A note - if you're sensitive to rape and sexualization of some of the female characters, there are some elements of this in the series, which may detract from it for you. These sorts of things lessen the experience for me in some shows, but I don't think in this one that it was to the extent that it took away much from me enjoying the show. I would have appreciated a little more development of some of the female characters, as this is something important to me, even when watching shonen/seinen anime. But there is enough there and the majority of the female characters have enough depth to them that I stand by my recommendation.
TLDR; I don't think you will regret watching this if you have any interest in series set in feudal Japan, with ninja and/or samurai elements, that has a thread of romance throughout. There is some implied rape and sexualization of female characters, but this does not, in my opinion, detract from the quality of the series.
