head to head
vs
FlatOut 2vsNeed for Speed: Payback
FlatOut 2 leans Execution (Pure Mechanics); Need for Speed: Payback leans Execution (Practiced Mastery).
FlatOut 2Need for Speed: Payback
Axis by axis
Execution7 vs 6
FlatOut 2 leans harder on execution: High-speed control amid wrecks and ragdolls
Reads1 vs 1
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance3 vs 3
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization4 vs 5
Need for Speed: Payback leans harder on optimization: Grinding efficient builds and routes is the systems layer
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.