head to head
vs
Assault Android CactusvsMetal Slug
Assault Android Cactus leans Execution (Pure Mechanics); Metal Slug leans Execution (Practiced Mastery).
Assault Android CactusMetal Slug
Axis by axis
Execution8 vs 8
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance2 vs 1
Assault Android Cactus leans harder on variance: Power-up drops add minor run-to-run noise
Optimization5 vs 6
Metal Slug leans harder on optimization: One-credit clears come from memorising routes and spawn patterns
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.