head to head
vs
EarthBoundvsPokémon Shuffle
EarthBound leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Pokémon Shuffle leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos).
EarthBoundPokémon Shuffle
Axis by axis
Execution2 vs 1
EarthBound leans harder on execution: Rolling HP meter has very mild timing implication
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance4 vs 5
Pokémon Shuffle leans harder on variance: Board refills and drop RNG sway clear attempts
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.