An interesting new interview with creator Tetsuya Takahashi from CHOCO's new book KOS-MOSFIX has been translated properly by Lugalbanda. What is particularly interesting about this interview is that it answers a lot about Takahashi's thought process behind the design of KOS-MOS, why he went with something "fan-servy" rather than something more serious and appropriate to the more mature and dark setting of the original Xenosaga vision. It makes so much more sense that he originally wanted something more niche, inspired by artist Hans Bellmer, which would have given KOS-MOS a creepier vibe reminiscent of Deus in its initial form (something comparably creepy never ended up appearing in Xenosaga, though the Archetype version of KOS-MOS and certain aspects of Gnosis came close). Xenosaga: Episode I still had the creepiest, most moody atmosphere out of all the Xeno games thus far. Takahashi's various niche interests was always what made him interesting as a creator, and I think that it would be so much more interesting if Takahashi attempted some way of re-making Xenogears or Xenosaga in a medium that would be less expensive and can embrace a more niche audience and result in less compromises like this.
Here are some images of Bellmer's dolls.
The information revealed in this interview has, as usual, compelled me to yet again update the History of Xenosaga article, adding some of the new information and quotes. (Update 2025.04.09: At first what Takahashi said seemed to contradict something he said in the Xenosaga -Official Design Materials- where he seemingly attributed the sexual design of KOS-MOS' to Mugitani, but it turns out this was just a poor translation of what Takahashi said which has since been corrected.)
