Building comparison
head to head
Metal Gear Solid 2: SubstancevsRed Dead Redemption 2
Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance asks more than Red Dead Redemption 2, and the gap is optimization.
Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance
Optimization · Practiced Mastery
A stealth-action game where planning routes past scripted guards is the deep skill.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Execution · Practiced Mastery
A cinematic open-world western leaning on shooting feel and atmosphere.
Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery); Red Dead Redemption 2 leans Execution (Practiced Mastery).
Metal Gear Solid 2: SubstanceRed Dead Redemption 2
Axis by axis
Execution4 vs 5
Red Dead Redemption 2 leans a little harder on execution, though the gap is small.
Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance
stealth timing and aim matter
Red Dead Redemption 2
Gunplay and Dead Eye reward aim and timing.
Reads0 vs 1
Red Dead Redemption 2 leans a little harder on reads, though the gap is small.
Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance
guards are scripted, no adaptation
Red Dead Redemption 2
Enemies use scripted AI patterns, not adaptation.
Variance1 vs 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 leans a little harder on variance, though the gap is small.
Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance
minor patrol randomness
Red Dead Redemption 2
Some hunting and weather randomness, lightly hidden.
Optimization6 vs 4
Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance leans clearly harder on optimization.
Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance
stealth routes and gadgets solvable
Red Dead Redemption 2
Loadouts and routes solvable but loose.
A matching score does not mean a matching test. Two games can both sit at 10 on execution and demand completely different things of you - which is why the reasoning above matters more than the number beside it.
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