head to head
vs
Half-Life 2vsNeverDead
Half-Life 2 leans Execution (Pure Mechanics); NeverDead leans Execution (Practiced Mastery).
Half-Life 2NeverDead
Axis by axis
Execution6 vs 6
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads1 vs 0
Half-Life 2 leans harder on reads: Combine AI scripted, non-adaptive.
Variance1 vs 1
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization3 vs 4
NeverDead leans harder on optimization: Upgrade picks and limb-management tactics are quickly mapped
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.