Building comparison
head to head
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed KingvsPokémon SoulSilver Version
Neither is meaningfully harder - they pose close to the same test. The widest gap is reads, and it is a single point.
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
Optimization · Pure Optimization
A warm, classic JRPG adventure with deep alchemy crafting.
Pokémon SoulSilver Version
Optimization · Pure Optimization
Plannable type-matchup progression through two regions of fixed trainers.
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Pokémon SoulSilver Version leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed KingPokémon SoulSilver Version
Axis by axis
Execution0 vs 0
Same score on execution - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
Turn-based menus, zero dexterity
Pokémon SoulSilver Version
Menu-driven battles have no physical component
Reads0 vs 1
Pokémon SoulSilver Version leans a little harder on reads, though the gap is small.
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
Monsters act on fixed logic
Pokémon SoulSilver Version
Trainer AI is scripted; human battles are an optional sideline
Variance3 vs 3
Same score on variance - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
Battle RNG, drops, and casino luck
Pokémon SoulSilver Version
Catch rates, crits and encounters are bounded randomness
Optimization7 vs 8
Pokémon SoulSilver Version leans a little harder on optimization, though the gap is small.
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
Skill points, alchemy, and tension are optimizable
Pokémon SoulSilver Version
Team building against known gyms is fully plannable
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.
full breakdown
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King →
full breakdown
Pokémon SoulSilver Version →
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