head to head
vs
DescendersvsDownwell
Descenders leans Execution (Pure Mechanics); Downwell leans Execution (Pure Mechanics).
DescendersDownwell
Axis by axis
Execution8 vs 8
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance5 vs 4
Descenders leans harder on variance: Procedurally generated maps mean each run has unknown layout
Optimization4 vs 4
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.