head to head

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII cover artvsTrials of Mana cover art

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIIIvsTrials of Mana

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Trials of Mana leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).

EXECUTION4 /10READS0 /10VARIANCE2 /10OPTIMIZATION8 /10
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIIITrials of Mana

Axis by axis

Execution4 vs 5

Trials of Mana leans harder on execution: Real-time character swapping and attack timing matter

Reads0 vs 0

Even - both lean on reads about the same.

Variance2 vs 3

Trials of Mana leans harder on variance: Random class-change bonus stats and item drops add some variance

Optimization8 vs 8

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.

full breakdown

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII

full breakdown

Trials of Mana