head to head
vs
Dead Space (2008)vsGradius V
Dead Space (2008) leans Execution (Practiced Mastery); Gradius V leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery).
Dead Space (2008)Gradius V
Axis by axis
Execution7 vs 7
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads1 vs 0
Dead Space (2008) leans harder on reads: Necromorphs follow fixed approach patterns, not player modelling
Variance2 vs 2
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization6 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.