Building comparison
head to head
Pokemon Yellow VersionvsPortal
Neither is simply harder - they are hard in different places. Pokemon Yellow Version demands more variance; Portal demands more execution.
Pokemon Yellow Version
Optimization · Pure Optimization
The Kanto classic reworked around your starter Pikachu following you through the original journey.
Portal
Optimization · Pure Optimization
The portal-gun puzzle game whose solutions are everything.
Pokemon Yellow Version leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Portal leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Pokemon Yellow VersionPortal
Axis by axis
Execution0 vs 4
Portal leans clearly harder on execution.
Pokemon Yellow Version
Turn-based menus; no dexterity required
Portal
Portal placement timing modest.
Reads2 vs 0
Pokemon Yellow Version leans clearly harder on reads.
Pokemon Yellow Version
Trainers are scripted; link battles vs friends optional
Portal
No adversary modeling player.
Variance3 vs 0
Pokemon Yellow Version leans clearly harder on variance.
Pokemon Yellow Version
Catch rates, encounters, and crits add 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 Yellow Version
Team building, type matchups, and routing are the game
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.