head to head
vs
Circus AtarivsMetal Slug 5
Circus Atari leans Execution (Pure Mechanics); Metal Slug 5 leans Execution (Pure Mechanics).
Circus AtariMetal Slug 5
Axis by axis
Execution8 vs 9
Metal Slug 5 leans harder on execution: precise dodge/shoot run-and-gun demands
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance2 vs 2
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization2 vs 3
Metal Slug 5 leans harder on optimization: weapon pickup and route memorization
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.