head to head
vs
Contra: Hard CorpsvsCrash Bandicoot
Contra: Hard Corps leans Execution (Pure Mechanics); Crash Bandicoot leans Execution (Pure Mechanics).
Contra: Hard CorpsCrash Bandicoot
Axis by axis
Execution9 vs 8
Contra: Hard Corps leans harder on execution: One-hit deaths under relentless bullet pressure demand perfect inputs
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance1 vs 1
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization6 vs 5
Contra: Hard Corps leans harder on optimization: Memorising boss patterns, weapons and branching routes is mandatory
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.