head to head
vs
Dead IslandvsMiddle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
Dead Island leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery); Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery).
Dead IslandMiddle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
Axis by axis
Execution5 vs 5
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads0 vs 1
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor leans harder on reads: Nemesis orcs remember you but remain mappable scripts
Variance3 vs 4
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor leans harder on variance: Procedural captains with hidden strengths and weaknesses
Optimization6 vs 6
Even - both lean on optimization about the same.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.