head to head
vs
CupheadvsIkaruga
Cuphead leans Execution (Pure Mechanics); Ikaruga leans Execution (Practiced Mastery).
CupheadIkaruga
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.
Variance1 vs 1
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization6 vs 8
Ikaruga leans harder on optimization: Chaining same-colour kills for score bonuses is a fully solvable system
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.