head to head

Fallout 2 cover artvsFinal Fantasy Tactics cover art

Fallout 2vsFinal Fantasy Tactics

Fallout 2 leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Final Fantasy Tactics leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).

EXECUTION2 /10READS1 /10VARIANCE5 /10OPTIMIZATION9 /10
Fallout 2Final Fantasy Tactics

Axis by axis

Execution2 vs 2

Even - both lean on execution about the same.

Reads1 vs 1

Even - both lean on reads about the same.

Variance5 vs 4

Fallout 2 leans harder on variance: Hidden special encounters and timed events create significant unknown-information space

Optimization9 vs 10

Final Fantasy Tactics leans harder on optimization: Job mastery, ability stacking, and CT manipulation are near-perfectly solvable

Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.

full breakdown

Fallout 2

full breakdown

Final Fantasy Tactics