head to head
vs
Original WarvsRome: Total War
Original War leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Rome: Total War leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Original WarRome: Total War
Axis by axis
Execution3 vs 3
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads1 vs 2
Rome: Total War leans harder on reads: Optional multiplayer battles; campaign AI is mappable
Variance3 vs 2
Original War leans harder on variance: Branching missions and unscouted enemy forces
Optimization8 vs 8
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.