Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain is unquestionably one of the top contenders for game of the year. Despite the fact that the title's creator and publisher had a somewhat public spat – Hideo Kojima and Konami split after MGS 5 released – the stealth action-adventure release has gone on to remarkable success both critically and financially. For instance, not only have myriad critics given the title rave reviews, but The Phantom Pain's sales went on to make it the best selling installment in the series' history.

Due to Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain's massive open world, gaming fans are rarely lacking something fun and exciting to experience. Whether it's taking on the title's sprawling story on a mission by mission basis, or simply farming fuel resources, players ought to find themselves engaged practically every step of the way.

Now, thanks to the modding community, should fans wish to trek across Afghanistan and the Angola—Zaire border region with a new skin featuring the franchise's legendary creator and director, now they can. Created by a NexusMod user going by the name "Xray_Doc", the mod puts Kojima-san right in the middle of the action as a stand in for Big Boss.

Besides the fact that Hideo Kojima's name can be found in almost every nook and cranny of Metal Gear Solid 5 save for Konami's scrubbing of it from the box art, the new mod featuring his face ought to clarify once and for all that The Phantom Pain was made by the developer. Of course, this isn't the first time that Kojima has been put into his creations. For example, an Easter egg for The Phantom Pain was discovered about a month ago that allowed gamers to recruit him as a Mother Base volunteer. Not to mention, one fan took it upon themselves to cast Kojima as a "Side Ops" mission spy with a Ground Zeroes mod.

Should gamers choose to eschew Kojima as their protagonist and use another mod to change Snake's appearance, there are a lot more from which to choose. Metal Gear Solid 5 fans can also play as Revolver Ocelot, the assassin and sniper known as Quiet, and even the bandaged Ishmael from the title's introductory sequence. Interestingly enough, should fans opt to delve into the game as Snake's pal from the hospital, players will find their vision slightly obscured in first-person view, as his bandages get in the way.

With so many skin mods already being implemented, it's only a matter of time before we start seeing even more new costumes and looks for the main character that push the boundaries of absurdity. Bearing that in mind, it wouldn't be out of the ordinary to eventually encounter a mod that puts Diamond Dog's head on Snake's shoulders.

Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain is available now for PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.

Source: NexusMods (via GameWatcher)