head to head
vs
Animal CrossingvsCollar x Malice
Animal Crossing leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos); Collar x Malice leans Variance (Systems & Chaos).
Animal CrossingCollar x Malice
Axis by axis
Execution0 vs 0
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance3 vs 4
Collar x Malice leans harder on variance: Hidden culprits and unknown branch outcomes on first playthroughs.
Optimization4 vs 4
Even - both lean on optimization about the same.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.