head to head
vs
BelowvsMuck
Below leans Variance (Systems & Chaos); Muck leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos).
BelowMuck
Axis by axis
Execution5 vs 4
Below leans harder on execution: Stamina-based combat punishes sloppy dodges and swings
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance6 vs 5
Below leans harder on variance: Procedural floors, traps and loot reshape every descent
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.