head to head
vs
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom PainvsTotal War: Shogun 2
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery); Total War: Shogun 2 leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery).
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom PainTotal War: Shogun 2
Axis by axis
Execution5 vs 6
Total War: Shogun 2 leans harder on execution: Samurai unit micro, zen arts timing, and castle sieges reward sharp play
Reads2 vs 3
Total War: Shogun 2 leans harder on reads: AI daimyo follow scripted clan doctrines; human opponents require reads
Variance3 vs 4
Total War: Shogun 2 leans harder on variance: Metsuke agent skill rolls and random farm yields add moderate unknowns
Optimization7 vs 8
Total War: Shogun 2 leans harder on optimization: Clan-specific mastery paths and trade port chains are the core solvable layer
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.