head to head
vs
Desert Strike: Return to the GulfvsRatchet & Clank: A Crack in Time
Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf leans Execution (Practiced Mastery); Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery).
Desert Strike: Return to the GulfRatchet & Clank: A Crack in Time
Axis by axis
Execution6 vs 5
Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf leans harder on execution: Helicopter inertia and dodging fire demand real stick control
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance2 vs 2
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization6 vs 7
Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time leans harder on optimization: Clank's time puzzles and weapon economy are solvable systems.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.