I'd recommend the first be played first, but I also think that if you instead play the second first and you love it, you can then go back and play the first.
The story unravels a bit smoother from 1 to 2 than in reverse.
Both are great games on their own.
If you want any advice to help in combat, I'm happy to give you a breadcrumb. I knew I'd love playing that game within minutes of watching a friend play it. I've put countless hours in and can't wait for my next playthrough.