head to head

Shadow Hearts: Covenant cover artvsThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim cover art

Shadow Hearts: CovenantvsThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Shadow Hearts: Covenant leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).

EXECUTION4 /10READS0 /10VARIANCE3 /10OPTIMIZATION7 /10
Shadow Hearts: CovenantThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Axis by axis

Execution4 vs 3

Shadow Hearts: Covenant leans harder on execution: Judgement Ring timing on every attack and item.

Reads0 vs 0

Even - both lean on reads about the same.

Variance3 vs 2

Shadow Hearts: Covenant leans harder on variance: Random ring effects and hidden sidequest triggers.

Optimization7 vs 7

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.

full breakdown

Shadow Hearts: Covenant

full breakdown

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim