head to head
vs
Contra ReBirthvsMetal Slug 5
Contra ReBirth leans Execution (Pure Mechanics); Metal Slug 5 leans Execution (Pure Mechanics).
Contra ReBirthMetal Slug 5
Axis by axis
Execution9 vs 9
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
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.