head to head
vs
Cortex CommandvsElite Dangerous
Cortex Command leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery); Elite Dangerous leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery).
Cortex CommandElite Dangerous
Axis by axis
Execution6 vs 6
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads3 vs 2
Cortex Command leans harder on reads: Human or AI opponents, but AI is largely scripted
Variance3 vs 3
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization7 vs 8
Elite Dangerous leans harder on optimization: Ship build, trade routes, engineering grind
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.