For the next version, possibly have Top Down mode as a possible game mode built into the engine? A lot of people seem to make their maps made for both nowadays. Maybe even put the maps in, too. It wouldn't be the first time a fan mod became canon (SRB1 Demake, Mystic Realms music... What I would do to see an overhauled Mystic Realm added to the game proper as a separate game campaign *sigh*)
You know, I've seen these kind of "add in this cool exe mod/level pack/custom gametype I like" suggestions before... and while I do kind of see where they're coming from, SRB2
really doesn't need to include all the cool things people have made as addons/mods for SRB2.
*
* please don't quote me on this if we suddenly decide to throw in SRB2 Kart, Top Down, Mystic Realm, SUGOI (and while we're at it, SRB2SBAHJ) as unlockables in the distant future.
Top Down for example has a
lot of changes to the gameplay itself, rather than simply being a version of Single Player/Coop with a top-down camera - rings act as HP restorers for a HUD health bar of sorts, players respawn with bubbles, everyone shares the camera, and the characters' stats and abilities are also modified. Not only would it be a lot of work just to port the code for Top Down's gameplay to ours, but implementing it would probably mean we'd also have to
maintain it alongside the existing gametypes as well as working on the main SP game itself.
Mystic Realm, meanwhile, is a complete Single Player mod of its own, with unlockables, emblems and even a Super Sonic final boss. Again, we would have to maintain this alongside everything else in SRB2, even if we could feasibly add the level pack in without removing any of its features.
SRB1 Remake meanwhile has actually been
removed from SRB2 for the next major version, 2.2. There is not actually much that is redeeming about it, and it wasn't even complete anyway (no bosses exist, and
Space Chase Zone is notably absent).
Mystic Realm's soundtrack is undeniably good though, can't argue with that. But it's not just a fun inclusion anymore, our Special Stages actually use most of it now!