Hey there! Has life got you gloomy? Is the world weighing down upon your shoulders and whispering morbidly grim sweet-nothings into your ear? No, this isn't a whiskey advertisement (however I wouldn't blame you for indulging a little during this segment). Although perhaps the reason for all your misfortune is that blasted name your parents have had you stuck with for all these years. If only you had been given something less generic. You know, a heroic name, like Francis, or...Kenneth.

Now, I'm not proposing we get all hardcore with nominative determinism, but maybe you might like to see how life could have turned out for you in this little freeware indie gem from Sara Sandberg: Six Shots of Whiskey.

Six Shots of Whiskey has been recently released by Nifflas' Games and classified as a "multiplayer dueling game." With intriguing embroidered graphics being the central focus, Sara Sandberg (Graphics) and Jonas Mattebohas (Music) have created a game that is played with one imaginative action: Naming your character. Doing so will instantly thrust a rather life-like personification of your hypothetical self into a battle to the death. With a full catalogue of statistics backing each of your potential abilities, you will both deal out and receive hit after hit until one (or both) players lay in a crumpled heap on the floor.

Remember, don't trek through this title all by your lonesome. Take Nifflas' Games' suggestion: "Play the game over internet, telephone, or any other way you can communicate." The best part? John Polson has pointed out that with a behind-the-scenes "character building algorithm," it can make math fun! Er, okay, on second thought how 'bout we just ignore the fact that thinking may be involved and just not crack the mathematical code? Awesome.

So what do you think? Is your name bulletproof?

Visit Nifflas' Games for the download, or click here.

I played a few round of Six Shots earlier today. It's not the most interactive title, but it's neat to watch the quilted graphics, and see how your own name fares in these battles. "BoG," quite sadly, never lasted more than 3 rounds against anyone. 

Oh yeah, it's certainly not the most complex gameplay. Although it's simple, cute, and good for a laugh.