head to head
vs
IcovsMetroid II: Return of Samus
Ico leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Metroid II: Return of Samus leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
IcoMetroid II: Return of Samus
Axis by axis
Execution3 vs 4
Metroid II: Return of Samus leans harder on execution: Cramped Game Boy combat against Metroid forms.
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance1 vs 2
Metroid II: Return of Samus leans harder on variance: Disorienting unknown caverns until mapped.
Optimization7 vs 7
Even - both lean on optimization about the same.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.