Editing KOS-MOS (section)

==Critical reception==
Since her introduction, KOS-MOS was well received. The staff of UGO.com described her as "widely regarded as one of the most awesome characters to ever come out of Monolith's design department", praising her as single-handedly making the game a pleasure to play due to her "sheer badassitude".<ref name="Top 25"/> Matt Miller of ''Game Informer'' stated that "Amid the strange philosophical and religious overtones" of the series, KOS-MOS stood out as a character that "can't be forgotten", and appreciated the air of mystery around her.<ref>{{cite web |first=Matt |last=Miller |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2010/11/24/top-ten-a-i-characters-of-the-decade.aspx?PostPageIndex=3 |title=Top Ten A.I. Characters of the Decade |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |date=November 24, 2010 |access-date=2024-02-14 |archive-date=2020-11-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128014741/https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2010/11/24/top-ten-a-i-characters-of-the-decade.aspx?PostPageIndex=3 |url-status=live }}</ref> Alex Williams of ''[[DieHard GameFan]]'' described her as "easily one of the coolest characters I’ve seen", further describing her as a "bad ass" and praising the depth of her character.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hump Day Otaku News Report 09.10.03 |date=2003-09-09 |first=Lee |last=Baxley |url=https://diehardgamefan.com/2003/09/09/2243/ |website=[[DieHard GameFan]] |access-date=2024-02-15 |archive-date=2024-02-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240215051427/https://diehardgamefan.com/2003/09/09/2243/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Charles de Clercq in his book ''Les Légendes Xenogears et Xenosaga: Monolithes brisés'' called her a "true muse", praising the effect of Namco's heavy marketing of her image and how it benefited the ''Xenosaga'' series' visibility, and stated that the series could not exist without "the image of KOS-MOS, for better or worse".<ref name="thirdeditions"/> Meanwhile, Stephen Harris of ''RPGFan'' praised the symmetry of her appearance and how well she stood out amongst the cast, though did concede that her "scantily clad android" design "will raise more than a few eyebrows the first time she struts her stuff on screen."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rpgfan.com/review/xenosaga-episode-i-der-wille-zur-macht-3/ |title=Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht |date=2003-02-25 |accessdate=2024-02-16 |website=RPGFan |first=Stephen |last=Harris |archive-date=2024-02-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216134312/https://www.rpgfan.com/review/xenosaga-episode-i-der-wille-zur-macht-3/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Robert Mejia in the book ''100 Greatest Video Game Characters'' stated that while many characters in the ''Xenosaga'' franchise warranted discussion, KOS-MOS stood out due to how "she speaks to the question if a robot can have a soul". He further described her design and narrative as one of the "evolution of posthumanism" through her various changes across the series. Mejia enjoyed how as the series progressed, her dialogue became less robotic and more human, reflecting her own awakening consciousness, and despite being seen as antiquated in the ''Xenosaga'' universe due to being an android, she represented the pursuits of attempting to create life strictly from artificial intelligence. He further suggested her role in the story suggested that analytical and physical superiority does not make a better "human", as her adherence towards a purely logical mindset is impacted by the presence of the "soul" within her teaching her the value of a human life. He further added that through KOS-MOS' portrayal, it provided an argument that for "posthuman perfection is contingent upon being infected with human imperfection."<ref name=":0">{{cite book |editor=Jaime Banks |editor2=Robert Mejia |editor3=Aubrie Adams |title=100 Greatest Video Game Characters |date=June 23, 2017 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield, 2017 |pages=100–102 |isbn=978-1-59582-768-5}}</ref>

Andrew B.R. Elliott and Matthew Wilhelm Kapell in the book ''Playing with the Past'' saw her relationship with T-elos as an interpretation of [[Gnosticism]], in particular describing the outcome as a "radical reinterpretation of Christian myth", with Mary Magdalene being the one resurrected in the future to protect the universe. Through this they felt it presented the Gnostic principle of rejecting a material body to strengthen one's soul. While KOS-MOS throughout the series had gradually developed a more thoughtful and caring personality, T-elos was represented by her passion, pride and anger, due to her biological components. Despite physically being closer to Mary due to these components, Mary embracing KOS-MOS displayed a desire to remain with a more calm and collected mind. They additionally praised how this conclusion reflected the series themes of connecting divinity with technological controls or devices.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Andrew B.R. |last1=Elliott |first2=Matthew Wilhelm |last2=Kapell |title=Playing with the Past |pages=350–352 |isbn=9781623563875 |date=October 2013 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing}}</ref>

''RPGFan''{{'}}s Tyler Trosper considered her one of the most amazing women in roleplaying games, describing her as having "a legacy that outlives her games". He elaborated further by citing the large amount of merchandise and visibility Namco had provided to KOS-MOS, despite the abrupt end to her story. He additionally pointed out that while she fits the "stoic android learns how to be human" archetype commonly seen in science fiction, her journey through the games helped set her apart, and particularly emphasized how her emotions gave her greater power. Trosper also pointed out that her relationship with Shion could be interpreted in different ways, and was crucial in her character growth.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rpgfan.com/feature/fempower-up-48-amazing-women-in-rpgs-part-3/ |first=Tyler |last=Trosper |title=FemPower Up: 48 Amazing Women in RPGs (Part 3) |date=June 2022 |accessdate=2024-02-16 |archive-date=2024-02-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216140645/https://www.rpgfan.com/feature/fempower-up-48-amazing-women-in-rpgs-part-3/ |url-status=live }}</ref>