1. Shotgun (video game deluxe)
I think you meant to reference Noxid's Crystal Caves mod for the Island contest, as that was the first mod to use shotgun
As much as I am... rather bored of the "Cave story But Different" approach, I think there's some things that could be done to actually make the game better and worth playing through again.
1.
My money system hack
Money is cool, I think it should be added back maybe like it was originally in beta. I understand why it was removed, but I could see it being re-worked in better.
2.
Bigger levels
We've already seen this done well in CS redesign. Let's bring it back bigger and better. While pixels level design isn't bad, there's a lot to be desired in terms of detail, there's only one layer to work with and one background layer for the background with very linier options. By making bigger levels this idea entails allowing multiple foreground and background layers, as well as more detail in levels with the tile layers.
3.
Better leveling system
We've seen this done in Revenge of Ballos and Critter Defense Tower, having lvl 4 weapons and level 5 weapons would be cool in conjuncture with the leveling system and bigger levels that would make for a really cool mod imo.
These three features stacked on top of each other work hand in hand really well. Finding hidden shops on giant maps, having to buy refills on health using money because health isn't nearby. Having the ability to buy badges with money that slowly regens health, make you deal more damage, give you a small partner that attacks (like a critter!) something that would let you jump higher ect. there's a lot of room to work with on that one.
I want to cheat and offer up a 4th thing that while not working hand in hand with the original 3, could really help the game.
4.
Better graphics
I've said this before, but the graphics in CS are.... passable at best, and overtly simplistic and lazy at worst. I mean I realize the game was made by one guy but I see a lot of people
praising the art in the game when it's one of the weakest parts of the game. Yes it's something of a feat when Pixel did everything else as well, but compared to
actual pixel artists you can find on twitter and pixel lounge today, CS's art stands at about high D tier to be quite honest. The game's resolution could be shrunk down to half it's size and almost no detail would be lost, possible for a few characters but that's quite literally it.
Seeing some high A tier art in the game would be really cool, especially tacked on top of all the other features I've mentioned.
In hindsight I think I've quite literally explained what
hollow knight is.
If you haven't, please play that game, it's basically better cave story lmao