head to head
vs
L.A. NoirevsStranded Deep
L.A. Noire leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos); Stranded Deep leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos).
L.A. NoireStranded Deep
Axis by axis
Execution2 vs 2
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance4 vs 5
Stranded Deep leans harder on variance: Island layouts, loot containers, and boss shark HP vary per seed
Optimization5 vs 6
Stranded Deep leans harder on optimization: Water, food, and raft routing are the solvable survival loop
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.