head to head
vs
DOOM (2016)vsGradius
DOOM (2016) leans Execution (Pure Mechanics); Gradius leans Execution (Practiced Mastery).
DOOM (2016)Gradius
Axis by axis
Execution8 vs 8
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads1 vs 0
DOOM (2016) leans harder on reads: Demons scripted attack patterns.
Variance1 vs 1
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization5 vs 6
Gradius leans harder on optimization: Power-up routing and stage memorisation define survival
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.