It may be too soon to adequately compare these two, (I have had 3 1/2 shaves with the Rocca and only 1/2 shave with the Game Changer OC), but here are my initial observations.
These are two very different razors. The Rocca is more substantial and feels smoother with somewhat less blade feel than the Game Changer OC. The GC open comb retains much of the maneuverability of the Game Changer .84 safety bar, but it gives the impression that you must pay some mind to what you are doing if you want to avoid cuts, nicks or irritation. With the GC .84 SB, I can zip around my face without having to pay much attention. The Rocca also seems to want me to take some care with the shave, but with both the Rocca and the GC open comb I was able to do my normal two pass plus touch-up shave without undue concentration and in the same amount of time as usual. And neither caused any unpleasant issues in the way of nicks or irritation. As for results, I am giving the Rocca a slight edge here, but not enough to be meaningful. In fact, tomorrow when I re-do the comparison by switching sides, the results might well be different.
Without initiating another debate on efficiency and aggressiveness, I would place both of these razors high up on my list of efficient DE razors, behind only the Fatip open comb, but I have never tried several of the more efficient razors like the R41. My take on efficiency is simply a measure of how close a shave I get using my normal routine. Aggressiveness is how likely the razor is to cut me or cause irritation, and to some extent how carefully I need to shave to avoid those issues. That's where the Fatip open comb failed me; I could not use it regularly without irritating the skin on my neck. Both of these razors are therefore less aggressive (to me) than the Fatip open comb and more aggressive than the Game Changer .84.
It would be very hard for me to choose one of these over the other. The Rocca has a unique look to it with the birch handle, and I find the large diameter handle a pleasure to use. But it's not readily available for purchase and it's pricey at about $100 delivered. For the same price, you can get both the Game Changer .84 and the open comb base plate. My advice, in the best tradition of these forums, is to buy both. (And then there is also the Blackland Dart which is another stainless steel razor that naturally competes with these two, and which I'll probably end up buying at some point as well.)
These are two very different razors. The Rocca is more substantial and feels smoother with somewhat less blade feel than the Game Changer OC. The GC open comb retains much of the maneuverability of the Game Changer .84 safety bar, but it gives the impression that you must pay some mind to what you are doing if you want to avoid cuts, nicks or irritation. With the GC .84 SB, I can zip around my face without having to pay much attention. The Rocca also seems to want me to take some care with the shave, but with both the Rocca and the GC open comb I was able to do my normal two pass plus touch-up shave without undue concentration and in the same amount of time as usual. And neither caused any unpleasant issues in the way of nicks or irritation. As for results, I am giving the Rocca a slight edge here, but not enough to be meaningful. In fact, tomorrow when I re-do the comparison by switching sides, the results might well be different.
Without initiating another debate on efficiency and aggressiveness, I would place both of these razors high up on my list of efficient DE razors, behind only the Fatip open comb, but I have never tried several of the more efficient razors like the R41. My take on efficiency is simply a measure of how close a shave I get using my normal routine. Aggressiveness is how likely the razor is to cut me or cause irritation, and to some extent how carefully I need to shave to avoid those issues. That's where the Fatip open comb failed me; I could not use it regularly without irritating the skin on my neck. Both of these razors are therefore less aggressive (to me) than the Fatip open comb and more aggressive than the Game Changer .84.
It would be very hard for me to choose one of these over the other. The Rocca has a unique look to it with the birch handle, and I find the large diameter handle a pleasure to use. But it's not readily available for purchase and it's pricey at about $100 delivered. For the same price, you can get both the Game Changer .84 and the open comb base plate. My advice, in the best tradition of these forums, is to buy both. (And then there is also the Blackland Dart which is another stainless steel razor that naturally competes with these two, and which I'll probably end up buying at some point as well.)
but this head design draws me back a little bit. I have Muhle Rocca and I find it remarkable, super efficient for a closed comb (and closed bar) razor, so one day, for pure recreation, I might add SS OC to collection, but I'd really like to keep that "layed feel" of a blade as Fatip has.
and many thanks for your feedback, considering old topic. I see why you end up with Rocca, and tbh I probably won't need any other razor as well, for similar feel - some razors just outperform anything else. I haven't reach for Piccolo since receiving R94, so guess it's just "let me get one more stainless just for reserve" sickness.
