Building comparison
head to head
Earthworm Jim 2vsNew Super Mario Bros. U
Neither is harder. They score identically on all four axes, so the difference between them is in kind, not degree.
Earthworm Jim 2
Execution · Practiced Mastery
Sequel platformer that swaps genres per level but always tests the hands.
New Super Mario Bros. U
Execution · Practiced Mastery
The most demanding of the New Super Mario line, with brutal optional challenges.
Earthworm Jim 2 leans Execution (Practiced Mastery); New Super Mario Bros. U leans Execution (Practiced Mastery).
Earthworm Jim 2New Super Mario Bros. U
Axis by axis
Execution7 vs 7
Same score on execution - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Earthworm Jim 2
Varied set-piece levels demand precise control
New Super Mario Bros. U
Challenge modes demand tight, precise platforming
Reads0 vs 0
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Earthworm Jim 2
No adaptive opposition
New Super Mario Bros. U
All enemy behavior is scripted
Variance1 vs 1
Same score on variance - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Earthworm Jim 2
Deterministic levels and gimmicks
New Super Mario Bros. U
Deterministic level layouts
Optimization5 vs 5
Same score on optimization - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Earthworm Jim 2
Learning each surreal level's fixed solution
New Super Mario Bros. U
Routing star coins and secret world shortcuts
A matching score does not mean a matching test. Two games can both sit at 10 on execution and demand completely different things of you - which is why the reasoning above matters more than the number beside it.