“A good movie, a good game, a good story does not hold up without a good villain.”
Kojima explained that Higgs was designed in three layers and that he did this deliberately, arguing that a strong villain is essential to a good movie, game or story. First Higgs wears a mask, so players initially experience the voice actor Troy. When the mask is removed players see his face and his performance as the actor Troy, and at that stage Higgs reads as Higgs playing the part of Higgs. Only at the very end, when players gather all the documents, is Higgs’ past and human side revealed as the third and final layer. Kojima also noted that Higgs is a boss character whom the player fights throughout the game, so he must provide the player with motives and playable emotions, and that much of that comes from Troy.
“Higgs has three layers. I deliberately did that. He has a mask on first […] The users get to experience voice actor Troy. And once the mask is removed, you can see his face, his acting, and it's the actor Troy. And Higgs, at this moment, is like Higgs playing the part of Higgs […] It isn't until the very end when you gather all the documents that you learn of Higgs' past, and the human side of Higgs is revealed. That's the third and final layer. […] On top of that, Higgs is a boss character so you have to fight him throughout the game.”