head to head
vs
Donkey Kong JuniorvsOctodad: Dadliest Catch
Donkey Kong Junior leans Execution (Pure Mechanics); Octodad: Dadliest Catch leans Execution (Pure Mechanics).
Donkey Kong JuniorOctodad: Dadliest Catch
Axis by axis
Execution8 vs 7
Donkey Kong Junior leans harder on execution: precise vine-climbing and jump 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
Octodad: Dadliest Catch leans harder on optimization: Simple objectives, little system depth
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.