head to head
vs
EarthBoundvsPenumbra: Black Plague
EarthBound leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Penumbra: Black Plague leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos).
EarthBoundPenumbra: Black Plague
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
Penumbra: Black Plague leans harder on variance: Unknown layouts, scares, and patrols on a blind run
Optimization7 vs 7
Even - both lean on optimization about the same.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.