head to head
vs
Metal SlugvsTyrian 2000
Metal Slug leans Execution (Practiced Mastery); Tyrian 2000 leans Execution (Pure Mechanics).
Metal SlugTyrian 2000
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 2
Tyrian 2000 leans harder on variance: Hidden secrets and drop rolls
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.