head to head
vs
Castlevania: Symphony of the NightvsDeathloop
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Deathloop leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Castlevania: Symphony of the NightDeathloop
Axis by axis
Execution4 vs 5
Deathloop leans harder on execution: Gunplay and slab timing required.
Reads1 vs 1
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance2 vs 2
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization7 vs 8
Deathloop leans harder on optimization: Time-loop puzzle - chaining kills is solvable routing.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.