head to head
vs
Desperados: Wanted Dead or AlivevsX4: Foundations
Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); X4: Foundations leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Desperados: Wanted Dead or AliveX4: Foundations
Axis by axis
Execution4 vs 3
Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive leans harder on execution: Quick-action setups demand precise simultaneous timing
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance2 vs 2
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization9 vs 10
X4: Foundations leans harder on optimization: Station logistics and empire economics are a pure engine problem.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.