I dont really think (as long as I mod!) there's really a game in the series that has bad combat for me. The oldest games (1-3) are an acquired taste where you need to learn the function of all the moves and how best to deal with blocking enemies (for 3), but I still have countless hours of fun with the combat. From 4 up it feels like they got better and better, 5 is my favourite for Kiryu and Saejima specifically, but that doesnt mean I dont love 0 (even though I miss the Dragon style, and no the unlockable one isnt quite it!)
Only 6 and Kiwami 2 really rub me up the wrong way, but PC mods basically fix that, so while they are still lacking compared to games that come before and after, I still have tons of fun with combat.
Ishin is the real weird one in the conversation. Because it was originally great in the PS3/4 version, but the remake for PS5/4 etc. makes some insanely silly moves that a number of us saw coming miles away. Its the hardest to love as unlike Kiwami 2, which at least is on a new engine with a different fighting style, Ishin is literally just the original but worse.
But then again, if 2/3 games I have issues with are remakes, that still leaves 90% of the series with combat I enjoy! I do reckon 7 may age in subsequent replays though, as Im guessing 8 is gonna outshine that one quite a lot when it comes to combat improvements.
