head to head
vs
EarthBoundvsLittle Goody Two Shoes
EarthBound leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Little Goody Two Shoes leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos).
EarthBoundLittle Goody Two Shoes
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 5
Little Goody Two Shoes leans harder on variance: Endings, deaths and night events are hidden until found
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.