Protagonists you just can't stand.

[Salad Is Murder]

...non-dimensional fuckwit...

*pokes head in door*

Did I hear someone say...STAR OCEAN!?

 

[jklinders]

Richard Rahl from the Sword of Truth books.

Let's start counting all the Marty Stu red flags here-wait, do i have time to list them before going to work? Barely.

He's continuously described as being breathtakingly handsome.

He's already pretty smart before he finds out he's special but after, holy shit does he ever become a know it all with at one point a lecture that spans, not one but 2 whole fucking chapters. Not short James Patterson style chapters either, long ones.

he becomes a total swordmaster in the second book by absorbing it's "knowledge" of previous owners expertise in a few moments.

He's some kind of fucking chosen one mage as well. So if being a swordmaster is not enough he can also deus ex machina himself out of shit with magic too.

People who were once his enemies frequently fall over themselves to be his allies and followers.

Fuck it, I'll just skip the other 5000 points points and get to the part where he creates an entire world that is free of magic (with magic nothing less, how the fuck does that even compute?) so that his numberless enemies have somewhere to go to be free of magic at the end which was all they wanted in the first place. The other choice being he simply kills them with a thought.

Fuck him and his Ayn Rand worshiping author.

 

[GiantRaven]

Cole Phelps. He's such a complete and utter twat.

He fits perfectly into the game mind you but by god, what a twat.

 

[Parasondox]

Nathan "fucking can't stop causing shit to happen" Drake.

In all my years of playing games I have never and I mean never had to question a protagonist so damn much while playing. I get it he's an explorer and yes I also get the he is very inquisitive but HOLY FUCK this guy creates more and more problems when all he had to do was just butt the fuck out. Most of the epic, extreme stuff that happens, wouldn't have happened in the first place if he didn't solve the bloody puzzles and then do all the work for the bad guys trying to kill them. Chasing something that clearly says "if you reveal it danger will come" and yet still FUCKING TRIES TO REVEAL IT.

Even the third Uncharted game kept questioning everything that Drake was doing and WHY THE BLOODY HELL HE WAS DOING IT. Granted there was something that was brought up in the game that would explain his character and position motives more but was never furthered and just ignored for the rest of the game thanks to discount Helen Mirren.

 

[The Funslinger]

OT: Cheap shot, but Sansa Stark in the ASOIAF books (haven't watched the series yet), especially the first one. My god, talk about pathetic and naive >.<

Yeah, but that's Sansa's arc. She gets all her romanticized delusions shattered[footnote]Happy endings with gallant knights? *****, this ain't Tolkien, this is George 'Orphan Killer' Martin! [/footnote] and really starts to wise up. So I started out being annoyed by her, but now I'd like her to catch a break.

Probably Ted Moseby from How I Met Your Mother. He's a likeable and funny enough character when the episodes aren't centred around his love life, but when they are (Which is most of the time because it's the over arcing story of the entire series) he's really insufferable and completely lacking in awareness every single time he's in a relationship that we know for a fact is destined to fail. And we have to watch what is essentially the same plot every time he gets a new girlfriend.

I absolutely hate the Flanderization that's happened with his character. It't the same thing that happened to JD over the course of Scrubs. I've never found comical prissiness entertaining, especially when they take the guy who's meant to just be the straight-man to all the surreal shit around him and butcher him into that. There's a god damn reason these characters started out that way.

 

[Eamar]

OT: Cheap shot, but Sansa Stark in the ASOIAF books (haven't watched the series yet), especially the first one. My god, talk about pathetic and naive >.<

Yeah, but that's Sansa's arc. She gets all her romanticized delusions shattered[footnote]Happy endings with gallant knights? *****, this ain't Tolkien, this is George 'Orphan Killer' Martin! [/footnote] and really starts to wise up. So I started out being annoyed by her, but now I'd like her to catch a break.

Yeah, I totally get that. Doesn't change the fact I can't stand her though, which is what the OP asked. I do have much more sympathy for her situation in the later books and I even enjoy her chapters because interesting shit tends to happen in them, but as a character? Nah, she's still too lacking in agency for my taste.

 

[mortalsatsuma]

Jason Brody from Far Cry 3. The guy was just such a screaming great douchebag.

 

[Mook_StyFawker]

Personally, I tend to go the FF8 route and say "The entire cast, including the villains.". THAT is a shit Final Fantasy game.

I want to hug you for this comment. God I loathe that game.

For me it was Dante in the DMC games. I seriously could not and can not find one likable quality about him and every time he opened his stupid mouth I wanted to slap him. It's actually funny because a few of my friends who like the series agree with him being a totally unlikable protagonist.

 

[Use_Imagination_here]

Every shouty and annoying shounen protagonist ever. Basically anybody that resembles Natsu from Fairy Tail.

I fucking hate that guy.

I like this series and I STILL fucking hate that guy.

Fuck him, fuck all other like him.

I mean do Shonen writers just have like a list of stupid annoying characteristics they have to give their lead characters before they're allowed to publish?

"Must be stupid, accomplish all of his goals through the power of some retarded moral lesson (usually friendship) we're going to repeat again and again and again and again and again..."

Why is NATSU a universal template?

 

[Use_Imagination_here]

Adam Jensen from Deus Ex: HR.

But that's only because of his voice. Everyone around him sounds fine (except for that one awful racial stereotype - you know the one), but he sounds like a car engine trying desperately to make a coherent sound. It completely destroys immersion to hear a dude who sounds like he's got level 30 throat cancer.

But it was part of his augmentation.

Like the face sunglasses.

It's literally supposed to annoy the opposition to death.

This was all in the lore man, keep up.

 

[Queen Michael]

Every shouty and annoying shounen protagonist ever. Basically anybody that resembles Natsu from Fairy Tail.

I fucking hate that guy.

I like this series and I STILL fucking hate that guy.

Fuck him, fuck all other like him.

I mean do Shonen writers just have like a list of stupid annoying characteristics they have to give their lead characters before they're allowed to publish?

"Must be stupid, accomplish all of his goals through the power of some retarded moral lesson (usually friendship) we're going to repeat again and again and again and again and again..."

Why is NATSU a universal template?

Agreed. The series is good (though the official manga translation tries way too hard to give aJapanese feel to a world that isn't meant to feel Japanese), but Natsu gets on my nerves pretty often.

 

[Use_Imagination_here]

Every shouty and annoying shounen protagonist ever. Basically anybody that resembles Natsu from Fairy Tail.

I fucking hate that guy.

I like this series and I STILL fucking hate that guy.

Fuck him, fuck all other like him.

I mean do Shonen writers just have like a list of stupid annoying characteristics they have to give their lead characters before they're allowed to publish?

"Must be stupid, accomplish all of his goals through the power of some retarded moral lesson (usually friendship) we're going to repeat again and again and again and again and again..."

Why is NATSU a universal template?

Agreed. The series is good (though the official manga translation tries way too hard to give aJapanese feel to a world that isn't meant to feel Japanese), but Natsu gets on my nerves pretty often.

I mean I get the dramatic force of a character gaining the will to solve the current problem by realizing some important moral lesson about why their actions are right or thinking about how others believe in him.

But why is it always the SAME FUCKING LESSON?

friendship friendship friendship friendship friendship

And the most annoying thing is that he has such a fucking awesome back story (fucker was raised by a dragon! to be a dragonslayer and kill other dragons, that shit be intense yo!) but the author still makes him an unlikable twat.

I mean twice in the series now he's managed to defeat someone using tactics instead of BULLSHIT (gasp) but both times it was immediately revealed to be an accident right afterwards. WHY? Why can't he do something interesting?

I honestly like Gajeel the most out of the dragon slayers, at least he feels like he's an actual fucking human being and not some annoying mockery of a character archetype.

My favorite moment in the entire series was when he collapsed in front of Gildarts after he got his ass wooped. Gildarts being a good example of a character who's basically OP but still human, can be defeated, and perfectly understands his limitations, with actual repercussions for his power since he's dangerous to be around. He seems confident, instead of Natsu who seems arrogant.

 

[white_wolf]

Conner I don't hate him with such burning passion as the moron above but he's bad a bi-polar hero who sways between brick and timebomb he was very unappealing.

I don't get what's wrong with him being stoic. Do character have to constantly talk and chatter for them to be considered good? when Connor didn't talk his actions made up for his lack of words, He's naive, he's stubborn, he's thrown from a black and white world to a one with all gray instead. The way he grows as a character and becomes wiser, the way the character had developed by the end was just great.

He was naive but not that much his range of emotions was either one side or the other screaming at the man who took you in like he did was not called for everyone I know thought it was a dumb scene because of how Connor acted. He would usually have his outburst at moments when it wasn't proper and then when it was correct it still felt hollow. The only moment I actually thought he was ok in was when he was a child. To me he didn't become wiser by the end just less hair triggered.

I have many other protagonist I find meh there isn't anything to write home about and are forgettable they don't however annoy me or make me feel like its a chore to fallow them around and so I care about things unrelated to them Conner is the latter I liked Achilles though he was too old to be a lead and I liked many of the people they helped on the homestead just not Connor infact I liked Desmond more then Conner which I thought Desmond was pretty aweful so that right there is saying something. Oh and I should have also add him to the list don't know why I didn't before.

 

[Drake Barrow]

Batman. To give you an idea, the last version of Batman that I liked was from the 90's era animated series. It was a balanced, nuanced take on the character - smart, tough, and dangerous, but still quite beatable and prone to making the occasional mistake. It captured the enjoyable parts of the character and left the "I'M THE !@#$%%^&$ BATMAN!" stupidity in the trash bin where it belonged. We've had too much Batman, and he doesn't need to be the most special of all the special kids anymore.

I'm not sure what you're referring to then since most incarnations post animated series are infact like that.
If you enjoyed the animated series you should probably try Arkham. They have a pretty great Batman, especially Arkham Origins.

Yes, Arkham Origins, the Batman incarnation who beat up Deathstroke the Terminator in a fist fight... as a rookie. Well played sir. This was a classic case of God-Bat. Deathstroke is faster, stronger, quicker thinking, and A BETTER FIGHTER, than Bruce Wayne's normal human body can deal with. Animated series Batman was fantastic, Arkham City/Asylum was great, and his current Justice League incarnation is solid. Arkham Origins... just another $&#^#@*# Batman.

Minus how seriously nerfed Deathstroke was and how terribly insignificant his role was *kick ass boss fight though* the way Batman evolved and was great, the way the game focused on the relationships between his gallery and his allies instead of another Year One tale was something I really enjoyed, and that stuff with The Joker is Killing Joke level stuff. Minus that nonsensical stuff with Deathstroke, it was a great incarnation of the Caped Crusader.

I'd actually agree with you about the Arkahm games having a (reasonably) balanced Batman in them. I haven't played much of them due to lack of available funds, but the spoilers, reviews, and analysis I've read bear it out. Though rookie Batman taking down Deathstroke does strike me as a bit much. Veteran Batman, yes, that's an even fight, but a Year One/Year Two Batman would be lucky to get out of it with all his teeth and most of his limbs. I'll withhold actual judgement until I have a chance to play it. The Arkham games have been on my list for a while, but lack of free funds make life difficult.

 

[Dalisclock]

I don't hate him, but Nathan Drake kind of annoys me. It's obvious they wanted him to be a lovable rouge, a witty swashbuckler. The problem is that for whatever reason(s), he comes across as a smug, obnoxious douche-bag. Such that seeing him die isn't quite so bad as it might be, because I can say "Serves him right for being such a prick".

I also would have liked Life of Pi a lot more if Pi hadn't come across as so much of pretentious jerk. Particularly the whole "This story should make you believe in God" thing the movie did.

 

[Chaos Isaac]

A few of my choices have been listeded. Yay.

But I think my top-pick of hated protagonist is Asbel Lhant from Tales of Graces. (Actually, I hate just about everyone but the brother.) Anywho, this guy is just... useless. And incompetent. Plus just god damn annoying...

Well, maybe Trevor kinda beats him. Because this guy comes into the game supposed to be some kind of wild card crazy dude and never does anything throughout the entire game. Well, actually his introduction stops the games short time that Franklin and Michael had doing jobs for reasons and just kills it. Kills it. You think he'd like kill a FBI guy and then shenanigans ensue but nope. Not even. Just a waste of time, and the few times his character does shine, he's not even the same guy the rest of the game tries to portray him as.

A few runner ups are:
Kratos: No, dude, you are in no way a good thing in the slightest. The ending to your games makes no sense and one was the only good one, narratively.
Connor: Uh. He's dumb, quite so, and walks away a few times from situations either through making the stupidest choices. (There's no way you could have simply subdued your friend. Oh no. He's more skilled and athletic combatant.) And somehow your in better shape then your father, the better and more skilled assassin, after being pretty much hit by a cannonball. Not to mention he quickly, and I mean almost immediately abandons the kick out the door of working for his people.
Ezio: Simply was around too long. He couldn't support his second two games.
Everyone in call of duty Ghosts, except the two supporting Ghosts.
Master Chief: You're a god of war now and you're never going away. Your character was spent after 2 games and since 3 you've only been a drag on the lore.
Jack: Mass Effect. Oh, you're a super biotic who once took down a space station and can rip through 4 giant mechs with no problem? Hah, no, don't lie to me. She's a immature brat who wallows in pity and doesn't even back up the supposed ability she has. Not even in a cutscene.
Nathan Drake: You're just smug, not funny, and even being shot and left in sub-zero temperatures cannot kill you, even dealing with climbing up a train. I also just don't like you. You also have some pretty dumb detours and puzzles.

Special Mention: Kirito from SAO. Why? Been said already a few times.

Gah I hate too many characters D:

 

[CrazyMedic]

the BS that shounen leads pull at times is really really annoying and pisspoor story telling.

I have seen his compliant a lot and I feel like people aren't watching Shonen for the right reasons, shonen should be like the later die hards completely shit in anything close to story or characters but awesome action, shonen is about sitting down turning off your brain and watching the kind of insane shit that not even modern special effects could render. Gurrenn Lagann is the perfect example of this, it the characters are annoying and fan-servicy but you shouldn't care because one robot just use a galaxy as a fucking throwing star.

 

[ultrachicken]

Adam Jensen from Deus Ex: HR.

But that's only because of his voice. Everyone around him sounds fine (except for that one awful racial stereotype - you know the one), but he sounds like a car engine trying desperately to make a coherent sound. It completely destroys immersion to hear a dude who sounds like he's got level 30 throat cancer.

I thought that was supposed to be because he recently had his lungs augmented. And was pulled out of sick leave early because of a crisis, before he'd fully recovered.

 

[Meinos Kaen]

Aaaaaah, finally, a place where I can let go of my hatred!

I'll pass over the overly beaten horse of the worst sister and human being ever Lightning from Final Fantasy XIII and another person already explained pretty much why block of wood Connor is dumb and oh so boring, and yes, damn Square to hell for forcing Vaan on us.

Anyway, another protagonist that I hate with all my soul... Well, the most recent one is probably the latest installation of Superman. The Man of Steel.

Spoiler

Passing over the various faults of the movie, am I the only who finds it hypocritical that he was all like 'AAAAAAARGH!' for what he had to do to Zod at the end of the movie while not even twenty minutes before he KILLED HIS ENTIRE RACE?! THAT'S CALLED FREAKING GENOCIDE! Your father wanted you to be THE BRIDGE BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE, not play god and decide that your entire race had to DIE! The Man of Steel is a NAZI!

 

[AustinN]

Batman. To give you an idea, the last version of Batman that I liked was from the 90's era animated series. It was a balanced, nuanced take on the character - smart, tough, and dangerous, but still quite beatable and prone to making the occasional mistake. It captured the enjoyable parts of the character and left the "I'M THE !@#$%%^&$ BATMAN!" stupidity in the trash bin where it belonged. We've had too much Batman, and he doesn't need to be the most special of all the special kids anymore.

I'm not sure what you're referring to then since most incarnations post animated series are infact like that.
If you enjoyed the animated series you should probably try Arkham. They have a pretty great Batman, especially Arkham Origins.

Yes, Arkham Origins, the Batman incarnation who beat up Deathstroke the Terminator in a fist fight... as a rookie. Well played sir. This was a classic case of God-Bat. Deathstroke is faster, stronger, quicker thinking, and A BETTER FIGHTER, than Bruce Wayne's normal human body can deal with. Animated series Batman was fantastic, Arkham City/Asylum was great, and his current Justice League incarnation is solid. Arkham Origins... just another $&#^#@*# Batman.

And what about all the shit Bane did to him? Batsuit or not, Batmans organs should've been soup by the end of that game.