Building comparison
head to head
Contra: Hard CorpsvsDonkey Kong Country Returns
Neither is meaningfully harder - they pose close to the same test. The widest gap is execution, and it is a single point.
Contra: Hard Corps
Execution · Pure Mechanics
Memorising brutal scripted patterns and executing them without a single slip.
Donkey Kong Country Returns
Execution · Pure Mechanics
Retro Studios' notoriously tough revival of Donkey Kong Country with relentless set-piece levels.
Contra: Hard Corps leans Execution (Pure Mechanics); Donkey Kong Country Returns leans Execution (Pure Mechanics).
Contra: Hard CorpsDonkey Kong Country Returns
Axis by axis
Execution9 vs 8
Contra: Hard Corps leans a little harder on execution, though the gap is small.
Contra: Hard Corps
One-hit deaths under relentless bullet pressure demand perfect inputs
Donkey Kong Country Returns
Demanding rocket-barrel and mine-cart sections, strict timing
Reads0 vs 0
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Contra: Hard Corps
Bosses are fully scripted setpieces
Donkey Kong Country Returns
Scripted hazards, no adaptation
Variance1 vs 1
Same score on variance - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Contra: Hard Corps
Everything fixed once routes and patterns are known
Donkey Kong Country Returns
Hidden puzzle pieces, fixed once found
Optimization6 vs 5
Contra: Hard Corps leans a little harder on optimization, though the gap is small.
Contra: Hard Corps
Memorising boss patterns, weapons and branching routes is mandatory
Donkey Kong Country Returns
KONG letters and time attack routes are learnable
A matching score does not mean a matching test. Two games can both sit at 10 on execution and demand completely different things of you - which is why the reasoning above matters more than the number beside it.