As many one states, this game is very similar (and opposite in same time) to well known Aquaria. No need to tell the plot, its quite direct with just minor plot twists, but plot is not main thing in WM. So, WM and Aquaria. To cut in short, Aquaria have water and Mars is Dry as hell (mostly). In Aquaria you fight hordes of enemies, and in WM you plant life (but still can be hurt). Aquaria is bright and colourful, Mars is monotone, relatively dark. Aquria is full of life and Mars is...oh well, thats up to you. In term of mechanics they have a lot of common in some ways. You fly in caverns, do stuff. Hardly can be called platformer. There is some puzzles and quests to complete and lot of space to explore, albeit in term of exploration Aquaria is more to offer. Metroidvania element is present in both games, but in Mars backtracking (and revisiting as well) is just minor. There is no new abilities, except new seeds, but usually when you done with area - you done. OFC WM is not perfect. Graphically its fine, but most caverns looks little too simplistic. Keep in mind, that WM was naturally MOBILE game, later ported to PC, while Aquaria is opposite. There is too much of grind in some areas, when you just feel little too high number of flesh mass, so you get seeds, feed them to bugs, repeat. Boring. There is some problems in game design like "spore infestation" - spores can grow in fungi which fill whole area with new spores killing all ecosystem in result. Its hard and tedious to get rid of that infestation and i never understood is it was flaw in design or challenge? But, to tell truth whole time i played i never felt urge ti rage-quite or drop game. It wasnt ideal, but it was fun enough for me.
