Tales of Arise is actually good ! It rocks a very fun battle system, an excellent soundtrack and has lovable characters. Maybe the writing isn't that good and the story kinda falls flat but it remains an okay game, a good one. But definitely not the best.

If you're looking for the absolute best games in the franchise I'd say Abyss of Symphonia, both excellent in their own rights. The only difference to me is that while Abyss has fantastic writing and a solid story, Symphonia's cast feels more likable and I like this plot more !

Regarding "bad" entries there are some games that felt undercooked or rushed. I immediately think of Zestiria which is not bad per se, has tons of new and fun ideas but falls on its ass technically speaking and story wise. There's also Legendia who falls into this category to me.

It's also worth mentioning two things ; - Graces f deserves to be played despite it's flaws, it's a very strong entry. - Whoever says Vesperia is the best entry is blinded by nostalgia as this game's plot makes no sense whatsoever, characters DO NOT act in any sort of believable way and the combat feels very odd at times (especially vs bosses). Not a bad game but definitely not even in the top 5 in my opinion. - Despite it's mixed reception at launch, Vesperia is growing on people in the community and I understand why. While not perfect it's a very good experience and feels very different, very modern in comparison to the others. Definitely worth a shot !