head to head
vs
ShenmuevsSpiritfarer
Shenmue leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery); Spiritfarer leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
ShenmueSpiritfarer
Axis by axis
Execution3 vs 2
Shenmue leans harder on execution: QTEs and light brawling demand modest timing
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance2 vs 1
Shenmue leans harder on variance: First playthrough leans on not knowing schedules and clues
Optimization5 vs 5
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.