head to head
vs
Grand Theft Auto: San AndreasvsShadow Man
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery); Shadow Man leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery).
Grand Theft Auto: San AndreasShadow Man
Axis by axis
Execution4 vs 5
Shadow Man leans harder on execution: Platforming and aim matter but rarely spike
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance2 vs 2
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization6 vs 7
Shadow Man leans harder on optimization: Non-linear Metroid-style routing of Dark Souls collectibles dominates
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.