Building comparison
head to head
Contra: Hard CorpsvsSuper Mario World
Contra: Hard Corps asks more than Super Mario World, and the gap is execution.
Contra: Hard Corps
Execution · Pure Mechanics
Memorising brutal scripted patterns and executing them without a single slip.
Super Mario World
Execution · Pure Mechanics
Precise jump execution across fixed levels with secrets to memorise.
Contra: Hard Corps leans Execution (Pure Mechanics); Super Mario World leans Execution (Pure Mechanics).
Contra: Hard CorpsSuper Mario World
Axis by axis
Execution9 vs 7
Contra: Hard Corps leans clearly harder on execution.
Contra: Hard Corps
One-hit deaths under relentless bullet pressure demand perfect inputs
Super Mario World
Perfect inputs trivialise every jump, spin and cape flight
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
Super Mario World
Scripted Koopas adapt to nothing
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
Super Mario World
Levels are fixed; nothing hidden survives one playthrough
Optimization6 vs 4
Contra: Hard Corps leans clearly harder on optimization.
Contra: Hard Corps
Memorising boss patterns, weapons and branching routes is mandatory
Super Mario World
Secret exits and route knowledge add a modest solvable layer
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.