head to head
vs
BastionvsCrystalis
Bastion leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery); Crystalis leans Execution (Practiced Mastery).
BastionCrystalis
Axis by axis
Execution5 vs 6
Crystalis leans harder on execution: Charged-sword combat and dodging demand real NES dexterity
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance2 vs 1
Bastion leans harder on variance: Minor loot variance.
Optimization6 vs 6
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.