head to head
vs
EarthBoundvsThe Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing
EarthBound leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos).
EarthBoundThe Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing
Axis by axis
Execution2 vs 3
The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing leans harder on execution: Dodging and skill timing slightly above genre norm
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance4 vs 5
The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing leans harder on variance: Loot RNG and rage-powerup rolls
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.