head to head
vs
Metal Slug 5vsPenarium
Metal Slug 5 leans Execution (Pure Mechanics); Penarium leans Execution (Pure Mechanics).
Metal Slug 5Penarium
Axis by axis
Execution9 vs 9
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads0 vs 1
Penarium leans harder on reads: No adaptive opponent in an arena dodge game
Variance2 vs 3
Penarium leans harder on variance: Trap selection randomises each round's threats
Optimization3 vs 3
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.