head to head
vs
Sam & Max: Hit the RoadvsZero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward
Sam & Max: Hit the Road leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Sam & Max: Hit the RoadZero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward
Axis by axis
Execution1 vs 0
Sam & Max: Hit the Road leans harder on execution: Cursor-driven; no reflexes tested at any point
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance2 vs 3
Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward leans harder on variance: Hidden partner allegiances and chromatic door codes obscure paths
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.