head to head
vs
Life Goes On: Done to DeathvsPortal
Life Goes On: Done to Death leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Portal leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Life Goes On: Done to DeathPortal
Axis by axis
Execution4 vs 4
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance1 vs 0
Life Goes On: Done to Death leans harder on variance: Every puzzle room is fixed and fully visible
Optimization7 vs 8
Portal leans harder on optimization: Pure puzzle-solving optimization.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.