Building comparison
head to head
Of Orcs and MenvsSuper Paper Mario
Neither is meaningfully harder - they pose close to the same test. The widest gap is execution, and it is a single point.
Of Orcs and Men
Optimization · Pure Optimization
A tactical action RPG testing ability sequencing and build choices over reflexes.
Super Paper Mario
Optimization · Practiced Mastery
A puzzle-leaning platformer testing perspective-flip problem solving more than reflexes.
Of Orcs and Men leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Super Paper Mario leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery).
Of Orcs and MenSuper Paper Mario
Axis by axis
Execution3 vs 4
Super Paper Mario leans a little harder on execution, though the gap is small.
Of Orcs and Men
Slowed tactical combat forgives imprecise inputs
Super Paper Mario
Light platforming demands, well below mainline Mario
Reads0 vs 0
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Of Orcs and Men
Enemy squads follow fixed behaviours
Super Paper Mario
Enemies follow simple fixed patterns, no adaptation
Variance1 vs 1
Same score on variance - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Of Orcs and Men
Encounters are authored with little randomness
Super Paper Mario
Dimension-flip secrets are scripted-but-unknown until found
Optimization6 vs 6
Same score on optimization - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Of Orcs and Men
Skill queues, rage management and builds decide fights
Super Paper Mario
Solving levels via the 2D/3D flip mechanic is the core test
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.