head to head
vs
EarthBoundvsHero's Quest: So You Want to Be a Hero
EarthBound leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Hero's Quest: So You Want to Be a Hero leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
EarthBoundHero's Quest: So You Want to Be a Hero
Axis by axis
Execution2 vs 2
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance4 vs 3
EarthBound leans harder on variance: PSI randomness, enemy attack variety, and encounter triggers add unpredictability
Optimization7 vs 6
EarthBound leans harder on optimization: Status effects, rolling HP strategy, and Franklin Badge usage are solvable
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.