head to head
vs
Return to ZorkvsSam & Max: Hit the Road
Return to Zork leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Sam & Max: Hit the Road leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Return to ZorkSam & Max: Hit the Road
Axis by axis
Execution1 vs 1
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads1 vs 0
Return to Zork leans harder on reads: Characters follow scripted responses, not adaptation
Variance2 vs 2
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization8 vs 8
Even - both lean on optimization about the same.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.