head to head
vs
Age of Empires II: Definitive EditionvsNatural Selection 2
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition leans Optimization (Grand Arena); Natural Selection 2 leans Execution (Grand Arena).
Age of Empires II: Definitive EditionNatural Selection 2
Axis by axis
Execution7 vs 8
Natural Selection 2 leans harder on execution: Skulk movement and marine aim have steep ceilings
Reads7 vs 6
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition leans harder on reads: PvP ladder rewards adaptation
Variance2 vs 2
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization8 vs 6
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition leans harder on optimization: civ build orders deeply mapped
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.