head to head
vs
Metal Gear Solid: Portable OpsvsRome: Total War
Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Rome: Total War leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Metal Gear Solid: Portable OpsRome: Total War
Axis by axis
Execution5 vs 3
Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops leans harder on execution: PSP stealth and shooting with workable but demanding controls.
Reads1 vs 2
Rome: Total War leans harder on reads: Optional multiplayer battles; campaign AI is mappable
Variance3 vs 2
Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops leans harder on variance: Soldier recruitment and patrol layouts add some unknowns.
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.