head to head
vs
Reverse: 1999vsX-COM: UFO Defense
Reverse: 1999 leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); X-COM: UFO Defense leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos).
Reverse: 1999X-COM: UFO Defense
Axis by axis
Execution1 vs 1
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance5 vs 6
X-COM: UFO Defense leans harder on variance: Hit rolls, random maps, and unseen aliens punish constantly
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.