head to head
vs
Axiom VergevsShadow of the Colossus
Axiom Verge leans Execution (Practiced Mastery); Shadow of the Colossus leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery).
Axiom VergeShadow of the Colossus
Axis by axis
Execution6 vs 6
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads0 vs 1
Shadow of the Colossus leans harder on reads: Colossi follow fixed behavior patterns.
Variance1 vs 1
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization6 vs 7
Shadow of the Colossus leans harder on optimization: Each colossus is a solvable climbing puzzle.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.