Building comparison
head to head
Donkey Kong Country ReturnsvsSilk Worm
Neither is harder. They score identically on all four axes, so the difference between them is in kind, not degree.
Donkey Kong Country Returns
Execution · Pure Mechanics
Retro Studios' notoriously tough revival of Donkey Kong Country with relentless set-piece levels.
Silk Worm
Execution · Pure Mechanics
Classic shmup reflexes over memorised wave patterns.
Donkey Kong Country Returns leans Execution (Pure Mechanics); Silk Worm leans Execution (Pure Mechanics).
Donkey Kong Country ReturnsSilk Worm
Axis by axis
Execution8 vs 8
Same score on execution - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Donkey Kong Country Returns
Demanding rocket-barrel and mine-cart sections, strict timing
Silk Worm
Weaving fire as helicopter or jeep is raw reflex
Reads0 vs 0
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Donkey Kong Country Returns
Scripted hazards, no adaptation
Silk Worm
Enemy waves never adapt
Variance1 vs 1
Same score on variance - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Donkey Kong Country Returns
Hidden puzzle pieces, fixed once found
Silk Worm
Goose helicopter timing varies slightly with kills
Optimization5 vs 5
Same score on optimization - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Donkey Kong Country Returns
KONG letters and time attack routes are learnable
Silk Worm
Memorising wave patterns and power-up timing extends credits
A matching score does not mean a matching test. Two games can both sit at 10 on execution and demand completely different things of you - which is why the reasoning above matters more than the number beside it.