head to head
vs
Bayonetta 2vsNier: Automata
Bayonetta 2 leans Execution (Pure Mechanics); Nier: Automata leans Execution (Practiced Mastery).
Bayonetta 2Nier: Automata
Axis by axis
Execution9 vs 8
Bayonetta 2 leans harder on execution: Dodge-offset combos and Umbran Climax timing
Reads1 vs 1
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance1 vs 2
Nier: Automata leans harder on variance: Loot drops and chip rolls add minor randomness to builds
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.