head to head
vs
CandlevsRatchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Candle leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery); Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery).
CandleRatchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Axis by axis
Execution4 vs 5
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart leans harder on execution: Dodging, rift-tether mobility, and weapon aim.
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance3 vs 2
Candle leans harder on variance: Traps and puzzle logic are hidden until they kill you once
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.