head to head
vs
Rome: Total WarvsStyx: Master of Shadows
Rome: Total War leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Styx: Master of Shadows leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Rome: Total WarStyx: Master of Shadows
Axis by axis
Execution3 vs 4
Styx: Master of Shadows leans harder on execution: Ledge-grab timing and kill animations need decent precision
Reads2 vs 1
Rome: Total War leans harder on reads: Optional multiplayer battles; campaign AI is mappable
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.