Slightly spoiler-ish post. While I don't mention any HUGE spoilers, there are still slight ones ahead. Do proceed with caution if you haven't read Steins;Gate.
Pyrax said:
I'd say it's the solid, character-driven storyline, primarily in the second half (if I remember correctly, the first half focused on getting to know the characters).
Yes, it did. It was after episode twelve and that "twist" (the one that was supposed to 'wow' me - didn't) that things start to pick up in terms of pacing. What "solid" character-driven storyline, though? All it concentrates on after that episode is somehow trying to undo the things done by all the d-mails and trying to travel to the steins;gate world line. Sure, we get to know each side character a little more while the "undo" process takes place and Okabe
does come to value the importance of the fact that time is a commodity that's better left as is - not something to be messed with - and gains development in growing up somewhat from a 'mad scientist' who just does what he wants to someone who actually understands that sometime you gotta make difficult decisions (or decisions that stomp all over the wishes of your friends) in life in order to get something you want (and that there's a consequence for all your actions) but I don't get what makes it so great that people call it one of the best anime there is.
It
is good (with some flaws, too, obviously), I give you that. The concept of time travel was really intriguing, I'm personally a huge sucker for things like that so I already knew about the parallel world theory and really, really liked the concept behind the "time leaps". A somewhat clever usage of the LHC and black-holes there. :p BUT, I never had that moment in this anime that made me go "Whoa, this is just amazing!". You know, the mark of a great anime? One that "wow"s you? I never got that feeling from this one. So, whenever I see people go "Steins;Gate is the best thing I've ever watched" I'm left scratching my head trying to understand what I missed. :/
I mean, a
lot of people called Gintama their best. I dropped the series multiple times in the beginning. But then I gave it a real shot, watched a few more episodes and now I
do very well understand what makes it great. It is an amazing anime - just that it starts super slow (horrendously) and the first few episodes are, for god knows what reasons, actually COMPLETE FILLER.