head to head
vs
AlienationvsBlack Mesa
Alienation leans Execution (Practiced Mastery); Black Mesa leans Execution (Practiced Mastery).
AlienationBlack Mesa
Axis by axis
Execution6 vs 6
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance3 vs 2
Alienation leans harder on variance: Random loot cores and weapon rolls.
Optimization5 vs 6
Black Mesa leans harder on optimization: Route, resource, and encounter knowledge
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.