head to head
vs
BastionvsStarTropics
Bastion leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery); StarTropics leans Execution (Practiced Mastery).
BastionStarTropics
Axis by axis
Execution5 vs 6
StarTropics leans harder on execution: Grid-locked jumping and yo-yo combat demand stiff precision
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.