head to head
vs
Mortal Kombat XvsStreet Fighter III: New Generation
Mortal Kombat X leans Execution (Grand Arena); Street Fighter III: New Generation leans Reads (Competitive PvP).
Mortal Kombat XStreet Fighter III: New Generation
Axis by axis
Execution8 vs 8
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads8 vs 9
Street Fighter III: New Generation leans harder on reads: Parries turn every attack into a human prediction duel
Variance1 vs 1
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization6 vs 5
Mortal Kombat X leans harder on optimization: Variation selection and optimal punish routes require systematic study
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.