 Phantasmagoria received generally positive to mixed reviews . The violent content drew a great deal of attention , with Lee S. Isgur of Jefferies & Co . , a global investment bank that followed the computer game industry , wrote , " It 's probably one of the bloodiest games ever . " Vince Broady , executive editor of Multimedia World , said Sierra was smart to try to capture the adult market , which was looking for sophisticated games especially after the popularity of games such as The 7th Guest . Dwight Silverman of the Houston Chronicle declared it the best game of the year , calling it a " masterwork " and " as close as it gets to a film you control " , although he said not everyone would appreciate it due to its violent content . Entertainment Weekly gave it a B + and called it " one of the surest signs yet of computer games approaching the quality level of the movies " . The review said it had some suspenseful and novel twists , but also some " horrific touches ( that ) seem a bit derivative , such as a Freddy Krueger @-@ like nightmare in which hands pull you through a bed " . Kim McDaniel of The Salt Lake Tribune called it " the most sophisticated computer game to date " and " a weird , wild , horrific ride that will make you jump at every turn , even if you aren 't normally faint @-@ of @-@ heart " . Although McDaniel said it might be easy for experienced gamers , she appreciated that it was more accessible for casual gamers than difficult games like The 7th Guest . 
