head to head
vs
BorderlandsvsSecret of Mana
Borderlands leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery); Secret of Mana leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery).
BorderlandsSecret of Mana
Axis by axis
Execution5 vs 5
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance4 vs 3
Borderlands leans harder on variance: Procedural loot drops gate your power
Optimization6 vs 7
Secret of Mana leans harder on optimization: Weapon and magic leveling routing and ring spell selection define efficiency
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.