While this game has some big problems, most of which I can't even hint at here due to heavy spoilers, Azure is the best trails has ever been in many moments. It executes so many plot threads involving what came before, the imediate conflicts and the future of the series perfectly and has a pacing that grabs you and doesn't let you go for the majority of the game.
When I think of an ongoing story of a world told throughout many entries, this is the kind of stuff I want done and I haven't really found it anywhere else.
This is also where I enjoyed gameplay the most so far, with some great changes to combat, incredible ost, amazing QoL changes and super fun bosses.