head to head
vs
Death StrandingvsShadow Hearts: Covenant
Death Stranding leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Shadow Hearts: Covenant leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Death StrandingShadow Hearts: Covenant
Axis by axis
Execution3 vs 4
Shadow Hearts: Covenant leans harder on execution: Judgement Ring timing on every attack and item.
Reads1 vs 0
Death Stranding leans harder on reads: BTs and MULEs scripted, predictable.
Variance3 vs 3
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization7 vs 7
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.