head to head
vs
Alpha PolarisvsThe Curse of Monkey Island
Alpha Polaris leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); The Curse of Monkey Island leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Alpha PolarisThe Curse of Monkey Island
Axis by axis
Execution1 vs 0
Alpha Polaris leans harder on execution: Point-and-click input, no dexterity involved
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance3 vs 3
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization6 vs 7
The Curse of Monkey Island leans harder on optimization: inventory logic puzzles 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.