head to head
vs
Pathologic 2vsZero Sievert
Pathologic 2 leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos); Zero Sievert leans Variance (Systems & Chaos).
Pathologic 2Zero Sievert
Axis by axis
Execution4 vs 5
Zero Sievert leans harder on execution: Top-down gunfights reward aim and positioning
Reads1 vs 0
Pathologic 2 leans harder on reads: NPCs are scripted, not adaptive.
Variance6 vs 7
Zero Sievert leans harder on variance: Procedural maps, loot rolls, and unseen ambushes
Optimization8 vs 7
Pathologic 2 leans harder on optimization: Brutal resource and time scheduling is core.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.