head to head
vs
Cthulhu Saves the WorldvsPokémon Emerald
Cthulhu Saves the World leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Pokémon Emerald leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Cthulhu Saves the WorldPokémon Emerald
Axis by axis
Execution1 vs 0
Cthulhu Saves the World leans harder on execution: Turn-based menus require no physical skill
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance2 vs 2
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization7 vs 8
Pokémon Emerald leans harder on optimization: EVs, movesets, and Frontier strategy run deep
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.