head to head
vs
Mortal Kombat XvsSuper Smash Bros. Melee
Mortal Kombat X leans Execution (Grand Arena); Super Smash Bros. Melee leans Execution (Competitive PvP).
Mortal Kombat XSuper Smash Bros. Melee
Axis by axis
Execution8 vs 10
Super Smash Bros. Melee leans harder on execution: Wavedashing, L-cancels, and tech-chasing set an extreme physical ceiling
Reads8 vs 9
Super Smash Bros. Melee leans harder on reads: Reading DI choices and opponent adaptive habits is constant and non-convergent
Variance1 vs 2
Super Smash Bros. Melee leans harder on variance: Stage hazard RNG and spawn positions add marginal chaos
Optimization6 vs 6
Even - both lean on optimization about the same.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.