head to head
vs
Contra ReBirthvsHudson's Adventure Island
Contra ReBirth leans Execution (Pure Mechanics); Hudson's Adventure Island leans Execution (Pure Mechanics).
Contra ReBirthHudson's Adventure Island
Axis by axis
Execution9 vs 8
Contra ReBirth leans harder on execution: Precise aiming and dodging dense fire defines every screen
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance2 vs 2
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization4 vs 3
Contra ReBirth leans harder on optimization: Weapon choice and pattern knowledge form a thin layer
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.