head to head
vs
Populous: The BeginningvsThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Populous: The Beginning leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery).
Populous: The BeginningThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Axis by axis
Execution4 vs 4
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads2 vs 1
Populous: The Beginning leans harder on reads: Multiplayer shaman duels involve some opponent prediction.
Variance2 vs 2
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization7 vs 6
Populous: The Beginning leans harder on optimization: Mana ramp, building order and spell economy are solvable.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.