head to head
vs
Barrier XvsNew Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
Barrier X leans Execution (Pure Mechanics); New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe leans Execution (Pure Mechanics).
Barrier XNew Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
Axis by axis
Execution9 vs 8
Barrier X leans harder on execution: Split-second dodges at extreme speed are the entire game
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance2 vs 1
Barrier X leans harder on variance: Obstacle sequences vary run to run within tight bounds
Optimization3 vs 3
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.