head to head
vs
Golden Sun: Dark DawnvsPokémon Emerald
Golden Sun: Dark Dawn leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Pokémon Emerald leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Golden Sun: Dark DawnPokémon Emerald
Axis by axis
Execution1 vs 0
Golden Sun: Dark Dawn leans harder on execution: Turn-based menu combat involves no dexterity
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance2 vs 2
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization7 vs 8
Pokémon Emerald leans harder on optimization: EVs, movesets, and Frontier strategy run deep
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.