It will be interesting to see whether the cost of components that can be destroyed during a raid deters players from getting involved. Certainly there are heroes who can afford to pursue this part of the game immediately, as they have been accumulating Influence (hero currency) for quite a while now. Villains, on the other hand, could run the risk of losing components that it took them weeks to earn in a single raid.
Villains vs. Heroes
Another central feature of CoV is that there are player versus player (PvP) zones which overlap with CoH, making it possible for villains and heroes to take a shot at each other outside of the arenas. So far there are 4 PvP zones with slightly different rules and objectives, one of which is "secret."
Unlike most MMORPGs, when you enter a PvP zone your level is adjusted to that of the zone. Hence, although there are minimal level requirements to enter a PvP zone, once in the zone everyone is fighting at the same level. While higher level characters enjoy the advantage of having fully upgraded Powers and a larger inventory for Inspirations, at least you're not put in the impossible situation of having to compete with characters twice your level.
It's still a little early to judge the PvP system, but the biggest problem I see with it at this point is obviously that there are more heroes than villains. This creates a major imbalance in the zones that focus on hero vs. villain conflict. Bloody Bay, for example, has a sizeable contingent of heroes sitting just outside the villain base pretty much around the clock on my server, ready to pounce on any villains brave enough to leave by the front door. You can get out of the villain base in other directions, but the only PvP fight you're likely to run into is back at the main entrance. Hopefully, the population discrepancy will lessen as villains reach higher levels and more of them flow into these zones. As it stands, the missions in these PvP areas, which grant you special buffs and temporary powers, are also somewhat undermined by the fact that the best place to find the enemy is at their base.
Warburg, being a free-for-all fight where heroes can attack other heroes, suffers less from the imbalance in numbers, although it does seem a little out of character for the "good guys" to be smacking each other around. Grouping is allowed, so you'd be well-advised to take some friends along if you intend to venture into this zone.
PvP is a delicate balancing act in any RPG, and there are a few other issues that will likely have to be addressed in future patches. Along with inevitable adjustments to the game's Archetypes, movement Powers may also need to be toned down a bit. While Super Jump and Super Speed fit beautifully into the game's theme, they tend to make running away from a fight that isn't going well fairly easy, especially when combined with Break Free Inspirations. Again, it will take more time to see if players find effective ways to slow runners down enough to kill them, or whether your chances of escape are too good.
Minor grievances aside, PvP zones are a great addition to the game which can really break the tedium of running mission after mission, and I think they will turn out to be a lot more popular than the arenas.
Bottom Line
Were this game nothing more than City of Heroes with different textures and new zones, it would probably still be worth the money, but the PvP system and Super Group base features make this series feel substantially more complete. It's easy to recommend this title to both new players and current City of Heroes subscribers, who could look at City of Villains as a very hefty expansion, since both games are accessible through a single monthly fee. Like its predecessor, City of Villains is an outstanding game that offers countless hours of entertainment without all the baggage we commonly associate with MMORPGs, and there's no better way to get in touch with your nefarious inner self.
