head to head
vs
Metroid II: Return of SamusvsMetroid Prime 2: Echoes
Metroid II: Return of Samus leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Metroid Prime 2: Echoes leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery).
Metroid II: Return of SamusMetroid Prime 2: Echoes
Axis by axis
Execution4 vs 4
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance2 vs 2
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization7 vs 6
Metroid II: Return of Samus leans harder on optimization: Hunting all 39 Metroids is methodical route work.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.