head to head
vs
Golden Axe IIvsShank
Golden Axe II leans Execution (Pure Mechanics); Shank leans Execution (Pure Mechanics).
Golden Axe IIShank
Axis by axis
Execution6 vs 7
Shank leans harder on execution: Combo juggling and dodge timing carry every brawl
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance2 vs 1
Golden Axe II leans harder on variance: magic potion and enemy spawn randomness
Optimization3 vs 3
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.