head to head
vs
Daemon X MachinavsGradius V
Daemon X Machina leans Execution (Practiced Mastery); Gradius V leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery).
Daemon X MachinaGradius V
Axis by axis
Execution7 vs 7
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads1 vs 0
Daemon X Machina leans harder on reads: Scripted AI Arsenals; light PvP mode
Variance2 vs 2
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization7 vs 8
Gradius V leans harder on optimization: Options configuration, power-up sequencing, and checkpoint recovery are fully solvable
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.