head to head
vs
CupheadvsDarius Gaiden
Cuphead leans Execution (Pure Mechanics); Darius Gaiden leans Execution (Practiced Mastery).
CupheadDarius Gaiden
Axis by axis
Execution9 vs 8
Cuphead leans harder on execution: Tight dodging and parry timing decide every boss.
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance1 vs 1
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization6 vs 7
Darius Gaiden leans harder on optimization: Branching route selection and pattern memorisation decide clears.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.