head to head
vs
System ShockvsTerraria
System Shock leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery); Terraria leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
System ShockTerraria
Axis by axis
Execution5 vs 4
System Shock leans harder on execution: Combat and cyberspace ask competent but dated reflexes
Reads0 vs 0
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance3 vs 3
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization7 vs 8
Terraria leans harder on optimization: Gear progression and arena prep solve every boss.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.