I'm still in the very beginning of FFXIII and saw a topic earlier about what characters people liked. They seemed to like Sazh, Lightning, Snow, and Fang. Some even liked Vanille and Hope. I can understand Sazh, and Lightning seems alright, but Hope, Vanille and Snow are absolutely painful to listen to. When Snow talks, all he says is about how he's a hero. When Vanille and Hope talk, it's just a serious of gasps and grunts between the two with some whiney bullshit and annoying quirky-ness added in. I cannot see myself ever liking these 3 characters whatsoever, and can't fathom how anyone else could. So, to those of you who like them, why? I don't get it.

" @Noodlearms: I've not played the game, but you should definitely not judge characters based on first impressions.  Character development can go a long way to changing your opinion on characters. "

At the start, I absolutely hated and I mean HATED Vanile.  As the story progresses though, she gets far more likable as you get to understand why she is the way she is.

" I guess, but the characters seem like the stereotypical JRPG template, aside from Sazh and (kind of) Lightning and most JRPGs bug the hell out of me story/character wise. "

" At the start, I absolutely hated and I mean HATED Vanile.  As the story progresses though, she gets far more likable as you get to understand why she is the way she is. "

I grew up with three very annoying younger siblings which Vanille and Hope dont even come close to so i don't mind them at all

Past a certain point, I actually didn't mind Hope as a character.  Snow and Sazh, I'm relatively indifferent to, however really early on Snow absolutely grated on my nerves.
 
 Now Vanille, on the other hand, I loathe to this day... Something about her voice, coupled with her actions in game.. ugh.  Maybe she gets better? 

After Hope returns the knife to Lightning (I don't want to spoil why), he becomes bearable, mainly 'cause he has nothing to complain about anymore. 
Lightning is cool. Sazh and Fang are not unlikeable in any way. You may find them bland and less interesting, but they aren't annoying. Fang's voice actress (Rachel Robinson) is the best performer of the main cast. 
Snow is... endearing... maybe? I just laugh whenever he talks. I understand that that wasn't the desired effect, but I laugh at him instead of hating him. 
Lastly, Vanille, I like her. My main crew is Lightning/Fang/Vanille. I have to switch to Hope once in awhile (Proud Clad battle) but I stick to her whenever I can. Dude, that little girl can cast DEATH!

I can honestly say that none of the characters ever bothered me.
 
Then again, I'm pretty hard to annoy.

Snow is like too many douchebags I've met. How anyone could use him in their party is beyond me.
 
Also, is it just me, or is Fang very 'meh' in regards to character?

Other than Vanille's voice actor and Snow's need to make an uplifting speech at every possible moment, one of my biggest problems was Hope's name.  When I realized his name looks like "Hope Esteem" I couldn't stand him anymore.