- ST shoots much easier and more nicely than SW.
- ST's code is much simpler to work with compared to SW. Not nearly as much stacking, simpler modes, less multiballs.
- They've both got a lot of modes (if you dig into the level 2 and 3 modes or the away team)
- ST has even more than SW, but I find that when I play ST I end up playing the base modes usually to try to get to Kobayashi Maru, and SW's modes are more unique than ST's which helps the smaller number of modes do more work.
- With ST the differences in the modes mostly works out with you figuring out the best shot patterns to finish them fastest and for most points, but at worst if you just shoot the shots you know you can get through any mode, but in SW if you don't actually know the rules of the modes you can just sit there stuck forever as some require shooting shots within time limits or things like that, so you really need to actually pay attention to the modes.
- Overall ST is much more controllable, especially if you live catch off the orbits and such. Similar to GoT (especially if you ignore the combos) you can usually get the ball under control from almost any shot easily. Meanwhile catching the ball from any of SW's four orbits is much harder, and I find it harder to just bump the ball over or catch it from the ramps. Plus if you want to get a good score you've got to be pelting that three bank regularly. SW is very hard to play in a controlled way to me, you'll spend more time watching the ball bounce around than making shots if you wait for a trap every time
- Some people just absolutely hate SW, while others adore it. I don't think I've ever met anyone who hated ST, but I've never heard as much praise for it as SW either