head to head
vs
Metal SlugvsSuper Mario Bros.
Metal Slug leans Execution (Practiced Mastery); Super Mario Bros. leans Execution (Pure Mechanics).
Metal SlugSuper Mario Bros.
Axis by axis
Execution8 vs 8
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance1 vs 0
Metal Slug leans harder on variance: Spawns are nearly deterministic once a stage is learned
Optimization6 vs 5
Metal Slug leans harder on optimization: One-credit clears come from memorising routes and spawn patterns
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.