The Patrick Polly Swooshball Challenge

About

The Patrick Polly Swooshball Challenge is a fast-paced paddle game that merges elements of Pong and racquet sports. You bounce a ball across a court, aiming to hit targets positioned behind your opponent’s side. The twist is the magnetic field at the center of the screen. When the ball nears its zones, it veers unpredictably. Timing shots to exploit these shifts is key to outmaneuvering your rival. The controls are simple but require quick reflexes to adjust to sudden directional changes. The game’s quirky charm comes from its oddball premise and dated release details. Tied to a 1990s candy brand’s marketing gimmick, it required players to submit barcodes for free downloads. Though its mechanics feel sharp for a late-90s freeware title, the magnetic field mechanic remains its standout feature. Nostalgic players curious about retro PC oddities might appreciate its niche status. Released on December 31, 1998, it’s a relic of a time when snack-based game promotions were a thing.

Storyline

On planet Candelia, children learn to play swooshball as soon they can walk. The game is all about hitting the targets behind your opponent's back. At the centre of the court, there is a magnetic field. If the ball comes close to one of its centres it changes direction. Patrick Polly has learnt to use this to his advantage. A tip is that you do the same.