Yeah, when 9 came out I was kind of disappointed because of the style of the character design. I had been hoping for a more techno-magical think like they did with 7 and 9. However as I played the game I really started to get into it and learn to appreciate the art as an expression of the storytelling. It is super deformed so everything looks cute, but at the same time there is an underlying creepiness to character's proportions. I felt that dissonance helped feed into the story of a world where things are not what they seem and beneath the surface there is a darkness growing.