Building comparison
head to head
Golden Axe IIvsSuper Mario World
Neither is meaningfully harder - they pose close to the same test. The widest gap is execution, and it is a single point.
Golden Axe II
Execution · Pure Mechanics
A classic co-op beat-em-up fantasy brawler focused on combat execution.
Super Mario World
Execution · Pure Mechanics
Precise jump execution across fixed levels with secrets to memorise.
Golden Axe II leans Execution (Pure Mechanics); Super Mario World leans Execution (Pure Mechanics).
Golden Axe IISuper Mario World
Axis by axis
Execution6 vs 7
Super Mario World leans a little harder on execution, though the gap is small.
Golden Axe II
melee combo and dodge timing vs enemies
Super Mario World
Perfect inputs trivialise every jump, spin and cape flight
Reads0 vs 0
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Golden Axe II
enemies run fixed scripted attack patterns
Super Mario World
Scripted Koopas adapt to nothing
Variance2 vs 1
Golden Axe II leans a little harder on variance, though the gap is small.
Golden Axe II
magic potion and enemy spawn randomness
Super Mario World
Levels are fixed; nothing hidden survives one playthrough
Optimization3 vs 4
Super Mario World leans a little harder on optimization, though the gap is small.
Golden Axe II
character and beast-mount choice optimization
Super Mario World
Secret exits and route knowledge add a modest solvable layer
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.