head to head
vs
Middle-earth: Shadow of MordorvsSoulmask
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery); Soulmask leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery).
Middle-earth: Shadow of MordorSoulmask
Axis by axis
Execution5 vs 5
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads1 vs 0
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor leans harder on reads: Nemesis orcs remember you but remain mappable scripts
Variance4 vs 4
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization6 vs 7
Soulmask leans harder on optimization: Mask power system, base design, and NPC tribe management are systematic
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.