head to head
vs
F-Zero XvsMetal Slug
F-Zero X leans Execution (Pure Mechanics); Metal Slug leans Execution (Practiced Mastery).
F-Zero XMetal Slug
Axis by axis
Execution8 vs 8
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads1 vs 0
F-Zero X leans harder on reads: Rival AI is non-adaptive
Variance1 vs 1
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization5 vs 6
Metal Slug leans harder on optimization: One-credit clears come from memorising routes and spawn patterns
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.