head to head
vs
Napoleon: Total WarvsSudden Strike
Napoleon: Total War leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Sudden Strike leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Napoleon: Total WarSudden Strike
Axis by axis
Execution3 vs 3
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads3 vs 3
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance2 vs 3
Sudden Strike leans harder on variance: Fog of war hides enemy positions until scouted
Optimization8 vs 7
Napoleon: Total War leans harder on optimization: Campaign economy, army composition, and line tactics
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.