head to head
vs
Barrier XvsSerious Sam: The First Encounter
Barrier X leans Execution (Pure Mechanics); Serious Sam: The First Encounter leans Execution (Pure Mechanics).
Barrier XSerious Sam: The First Encounter
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 2
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization3 vs 4
Serious Sam: The First Encounter leans harder on optimization: Enemy priority and positioning strategy are learnable but shallow
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.