Following the successful Dreamcast release of Phantasy Star Online, veteran developers at Sega's Sonic Team returned to the studio to design this enhanced GameCube version of the multiplayer action-adventure game. In addition to all the features of the original January 2001 DC release, Phantasy Star Online Version 2 offers new areas, enemies, and quests, and even some new lounge-area mini-games to play while waiting for the party to assemble. This version also includes a new, higher difficulty setting and allows players to develop their favorite characters all the way up to level 200. In addition, Phantasy Star Online Version 2 features special accommodations for player-versus-player battles to make sure they're handled fairly and to keep this style of play from interfering with the generally cooperative tone of the rest of the game.