head to head
vs
Dead or Alive Xtreme 2vsNeed for Speed: Payback
Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 leans Execution (Practiced Mastery); Need for Speed: Payback leans Execution (Practiced Mastery).
Dead or Alive Xtreme 2Need for Speed: Payback
Axis by axis
Execution4 vs 6
Need for Speed: Payback leans harder on execution: Arcade handling and chase setpieces need decent hands
Reads1 vs 1
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance3 vs 3
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization4 vs 5
Need for Speed: Payback leans harder on optimization: Grinding efficient builds and routes is the systems layer
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.