head to head
vs
Hard WestvsSid Meier's Civilization IV
Hard West leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Sid Meier's Civilization IV leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Hard WestSid Meier's Civilization IV
Axis by axis
Execution0 vs 0
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads1 vs 2
Sid Meier's Civilization IV leans harder on reads: Human multiplayer adds diplomacy reads; AI is mappable
Variance4 vs 4
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization8 vs 9
Sid Meier's Civilization IV leans harder on optimization: Tech paths, tile yields and expansion math dominate outcomes
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.