Building comparison
head to head
PortalvsSuper Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars asks more than Portal, and the gap is variance.
Portal
Optimization · Pure Optimization
The portal-gun puzzle game whose solutions are everything.
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Optimization · Pure Optimization
A charming turn-based RPG where timed button presses add light dexterity to simple optimization.
Portal leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
PortalSuper Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Axis by axis
Execution4 vs 3
Portal leans a little harder on execution, though the gap is small.
Portal
Portal placement timing modest.
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Timed hits and blocks reward rhythm.
Reads0 vs 0
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Portal
No adversary modeling player.
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Bosses use fixed attack scripts.
Variance0 vs 2
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars leans clearly harder on variance.
Portal
Deterministic chambers; no randomness.
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Hidden chests and first-run boss surprises.
Optimization8 vs 7
Portal leans a little harder on optimization, though the gap is small.
Portal
Pure puzzle-solving optimization.
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Gear, timing knowledge, and stat routing solve fights.
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.