head to head
vs
Deus ExvsX3: Terran Conflict
Deus Ex leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); X3: Terran Conflict leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Deus ExX3: Terran Conflict
Axis by axis
Execution4 vs 3
Deus Ex leans harder on execution: Aiming and movement matter but never define victory
Reads1 vs 0
Deus Ex leans harder on reads: NPCs follow scripted patrol routes, not adaptive modelling
Variance3 vs 2
Deus Ex leans harder on variance: Enemy placements and item locations are fixed but initially hidden
Optimization9 vs 10
X3: Terran Conflict leans harder on optimization: Trade-empire and factory-complex math is the entire game.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.