head to head
vs
Merge & BladevsTorchlight II
Merge & Blade leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Torchlight II leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Merge & BladeTorchlight II
Axis by axis
Execution2 vs 3
Torchlight II leans harder on execution: Faster combat asks for dodging and skill timing
Reads1 vs 0
Merge & Blade leans harder on reads: Monster armies scripted, not adaptive opponents
Variance5 vs 5
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
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.