I don't really do a lot of top perspectives but I think the basic technique for terrain is make a circle(like 9x9 tiles) that way you can corner and twist any way you would like. Keep the basic design fairly simple and add flare later with overlays and such.
The forest example you listed. I looked for a few points to check for tiling but didn't find any matches. Which leads to another method. Lots of work making everything "custom" or at least editing it so that it looks unique.
As far as camera rotation. Unless you are doing full top down 2D I really don't think it can work at least not smoothly and efficiently.
Your best bet, as Midi said, would be faux 2D.
The forest example you listed. I looked for a few points to check for tiling but didn't find any matches. Which leads to another method. Lots of work making everything "custom" or at least editing it so that it looks unique.
As far as camera rotation. Unless you are doing full top down 2D I really don't think it can work at least not smoothly and efficiently.
Your best bet, as Midi said, would be faux 2D.