head to head
vs
A New Beginning: Final CutvsBeneath a Steel Sky
A New Beginning: Final Cut leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Beneath a Steel Sky leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
A New Beginning: Final CutBeneath a Steel Sky
Axis by axis
Execution1 vs 0
A New Beginning: Final Cut leans harder on execution: Pointing and clicking carries no physical test
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance2 vs 2
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization5 vs 6
Beneath a Steel Sky leans harder on optimization: Inventory puzzle chains are fully solvable
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.