I've watched the whole thing, and I don't see why people say that. The main complaint is that when people die they no longer die in real life so it's less intense, but as far as I'm concerned, they managed to keep the suspense and sense of urgency until the end, and also managed to create a much eviler villain, or at least one I hated a lot more. The second half is very good, don't worry. The only other reason I can think of that people don't like the second half is that as a result of some weird stuff that happens, a non-canon incest ship arose in the fandom, and people were squicked out by the whole thing. Didn't bother me in the slightest.

I too started Sword Art Online recently and that's one of the weirdest pacing I've ever seen. The first couple of episodes could have easily been a whole season.

That's not a spoiler at all -.-

Yeah...  I didn't need to see that second sentence at all.

Also I agree about the pacing.  I'm surprised at how quickly they're skipping through the floors.

It's not really a spoiler if you just know the setting or name of the second half.

I do not know the setting or name of the second half.

Well, you at least knew it was separated, so the first storyline comes to an end. This means that world is no longer the setting of the anime.

Ehh... I kinda guessed they'd reach the final level at the halfway point, but I didn't really know what would happen after that.  I know we're told in the first episode, but that wasn't exactly a character I trusted so I wasn't really sure I believed it.

So I didn't really know what would happen.  Still don't.  Getting a pretty good idea with all these posts, though :P

Super Robot Wars is a huge behemoth.

Everything else, pretty dull.