Building comparison
head to head
New Super Mario Bros. UvsSuper Castlevania IV
Neither is harder. They score identically on all four axes, so the difference between them is in kind, not degree.
New Super Mario Bros. U
Execution · Practiced Mastery
The most demanding of the New Super Mario line, with brutal optional challenges.
Super Castlevania IV
Execution · Practiced Mastery
Simon Belmont's SNES remake-quest with a multidirectional whip and a moody trek to Dracula.
New Super Mario Bros. U leans Execution (Practiced Mastery); Super Castlevania IV leans Execution (Practiced Mastery).
New Super Mario Bros. USuper Castlevania IV
Axis by axis
Execution7 vs 7
Same score on execution - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
New Super Mario Bros. U
Challenge modes demand tight, precise platforming
Super Castlevania IV
Eight-way whip control and stair commitment test precision
Reads0 vs 0
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
New Super Mario Bros. U
All enemy behavior is scripted
Super Castlevania IV
Classic scripted monster patterns
Variance1 vs 1
Same score on variance - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
New Super Mario Bros. U
Deterministic level layouts
Super Castlevania IV
Hidden wall meat, fixed locations
Optimization5 vs 5
Same score on optimization - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
New Super Mario Bros. U
Routing star coins and secret world shortcuts
Super Castlevania IV
Subweapon choice and boss pattern study
A matching score does not mean a matching test. Two games can both sit at 10 on execution and demand completely different things of you - which is why the reasoning above matters more than the number beside it.