head to head

Shadow Hearts cover artvsThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim cover art

Shadow HeartsvsThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

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

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

Axis by axis

Execution4 vs 3

Shadow Hearts leans harder on execution: Judgement Ring demands precise timed hits constantly.

Reads0 vs 0

Even - both lean on reads about the same.

Variance3 vs 2

Shadow Hearts leans harder on variance: Ring sweet spots and malice system unknown first time.

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

full breakdown

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim