 A Billboard magazine review said Phantasmagoria " lives up to the advanced billing " and " aims to unnerve and succeeds gruesomely with bloody special effects interspliced in trusty scare @-@ flick fashion with daubs of flesh and hints of sex " . USA Today writer Joe Wilson gave it three @-@ and @-@ a @-@ half stars and called it well @-@ produced , visually appealing , frighteningly realistic and " a much @-@ needed change from normal fare " , although he said the plot did not start to become interesting until halfway through . Gene Emery of The Providence Journal said the game was " an impressive work , a sophisticated mix of live action and a rich computer @-@ generated environment , coupled with a musical score that 's spooky without being overwhelming " . He also called the gameplay " elegant in its simplicity " . San Francisco Chronicle writer Laura Evenson called it unpredictable and addictive , comparing it to a good mystery novel . Ric Manning of the Gannett News Service wrote , " The graphics are terrific , but don 't play on a full stomach . " Steve La Rue of U @-@ T San Diego found the game " visually opulent and interesting " and " has dialogue a lot better than I expected , given the trite gothic novel plot " , but also said he had to adjust to the " gradual , contemplative pace " . Jack Warner of The Atlanta Journal @-@ Constitution wrote : " It 's hackneyed , but the art is so good , the acting sufficiently convincing and the atmosphere brooding enough to keep you going " , although he said " precious little happens " in the first few discs . 
