head to head
vs
Cortex CommandvsTotal War: Shogun 2
Cortex Command leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery); Total War: Shogun 2 leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery).
Cortex CommandTotal War: Shogun 2
Axis by axis
Execution6 vs 6
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads3 vs 3
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance3 vs 4
Total War: Shogun 2 leans harder on variance: Metsuke agent skill rolls and random farm yields add moderate unknowns
Optimization7 vs 8
Total War: Shogun 2 leans harder on optimization: Clan-specific mastery paths and trade port chains are the core solvable 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.