head to head
vs
Gradius VvsSuper Metroid
Gradius V leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery); Super Metroid leans Execution (Practiced Mastery).
Gradius VSuper Metroid
Axis by axis
Execution7 vs 7
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance2 vs 1
Gradius V leans harder on variance: Minimal; stages are nearly deterministic
Optimization8 vs 7
Gradius V leans harder on optimization: Options configuration, power-up sequencing, and checkpoint recovery are fully 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.