Building comparison
head to head
Super Mario WorldvsSWIV
Neither is meaningfully harder - they pose close to the same test. The widest gap is execution, and it is a single point.
Super Mario World
Execution · Pure Mechanics
Precise jump execution across fixed levels with secrets to memorise.
SWIV
Execution · Pure Mechanics
A vertical scroller testing bullet-dodging execution over memorised enemy wave patterns.
Super Mario World leans Execution (Pure Mechanics); SWIV leans Execution (Pure Mechanics).
Super Mario WorldSWIV
Axis by axis
Execution7 vs 8
SWIV leans a little harder on execution, though the gap is small.
Super Mario World
Perfect inputs trivialise every jump, spin and cape flight
SWIV
Weaving through dense bullet patterns is the whole vertical-shooter test
Reads0 vs 0
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Super Mario World
Scripted Koopas adapt to nothing
SWIV
Enemy waves are scripted spawns, never adaptive
Variance1 vs 1
Same score on variance - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Super Mario World
Levels are fixed; nothing hidden survives one playthrough
SWIV
Almost fully deterministic once patterns are memorised
Optimization4 vs 4
Same score on optimization - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Super Mario World
Secret exits and route knowledge add a modest solvable layer
SWIV
Learning spawn layouts and power-up routes raises the ceiling
A matching score does not mean a matching test. Two games can both sit at 10 on execution and demand completely different things of you - which is why the reasoning above matters more than the number beside it.