Building comparison
head to head
Pokemon HeartGold VersionvsPortal
Neither is simply harder - they are hard in different places. Pokemon HeartGold Version demands more variance; Portal demands more execution.
Pokemon HeartGold Version
Optimization · Pure Optimization
The beloved DS remake of Johto with walking companions and both Johto and Kanto to conquer.
Portal
Optimization · Pure Optimization
The portal-gun puzzle game whose solutions are everything.
Pokemon HeartGold Version leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Portal leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Pokemon HeartGold VersionPortal
Axis by axis
Execution0 vs 4
Portal leans clearly harder on execution.
Pokemon HeartGold Version
Menu battles; no physical skill tested
Portal
Portal placement timing modest.
Reads2 vs 0
Pokemon HeartGold Version leans clearly harder on reads.
Pokemon HeartGold Version
Scripted trainer AI; online battles optional
Portal
No adversary modeling player.
Variance3 vs 0
Pokemon HeartGold Version leans clearly harder on variance.
Pokemon HeartGold Version
Encounter RNG, catch rates, Pokewalker luck
Portal
Deterministic chambers; no randomness.
Optimization8 vs 8
Same score on optimization - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Pokemon HeartGold Version
Sixteen badges of team building and matchup planning
Portal
Pure puzzle-solving optimization.
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.