head to head
Donkey Kong JuniorvsNinja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos
Donkey Kong Junior leans Execution (Pure Mechanics); Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos leans Execution (Pure Mechanics).
Donkey Kong JuniorNinja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos
Axis by axis
Execution8 vs 9
Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos leans harder on execution: brutally precise platforming and combat timing
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance1 vs 1
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization2 vs 3
Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos leans harder on optimization: minimal route/pattern memorization needed
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.

