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The Diversion

Why does a doctor in The Phantom Pain look like this real-life human head transplant neurosurgeon?

File this one under weird as hell.

The internet has blown up this week as its alleged that Konami has modeled a doctor in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain after Dr. Sergio Canavero, a real-life neurosurgeon who wants to perform the world’s first human head transplant.

As reported by Kotaku, the whole conspiracy theory started on NeoGAF with a simple post:

humanhead

You can read the full story over on Kotaku, but the short version goes like this: the internet thinks the whole thing is intentional.

Dr. Canavero’s head transplant project — one he wants to perform on Russian Valery Spirodonov — is codenamed HEAVEN, a term that should familiar to long-term Metal Gear fans. Dr. Canavero has also published a series of articles on phantom pains, and a logo he used for a TED talk resembles the scar Snake sports in-game.

It goes on and on.

moreevidence

The conspiracy theory spirals from there, with some believing Canavero isn’t actually a doctor and rather a well-conceived marketing campaign for The Phantom Pain itself.

If you want to see the Canavero clone in action, here’s The Phanton Pain‘s E3 2014 trailer:

Dr. Canavero assured Kotaku he’s legit and is also considering suing Konami for unauthorised usage of his likeness.

“To be completely honest with you: this isn’t such a bad thing,” he told Kotaku. “Since my project requires a lot of money, Mr.Kojima will be able to say he had a part in HEAVEN [the name of his head transplant procedure] despite the fact that he probably never intended to.”

Meanwhile, that featured image way up there? Yeah, it’s not from The Phantom Pain. Want to see it in full?

fullimage

Not creepy AT ALL, Dr. Canavero.

Konami hasn’t made comment on the matter as yet.


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Steve Wright

Steve's the owner of this very site and an active games journalist nearing twenty (TWENTY!?!) years. He's a Canadian-Australian gay gaming geek, ice hockey player and fan. Husband to Matt and cat dad to Wally and Quinn.