Vaan was penciled-in as the main character of Final Fantasy XII at the last minute because they felt that Basch was "not relatable". I'm not sure whether gamers should be insulted that Square thinks that Vaan is someone we can all easily relate to or what. But in any case, here is a list of characters who I found to be more relatable than Vaan in no particular order.
As I mentioned above, Basch was replaced as the main character in FF12 because somebody in Square decided that he was "not relatable" enough.
Basch however is a far more believable character. He struggles with his betrayal and framing, and yet chooses to do what is right. Badass role model, or whiny kid? Basch FTW!
Martin is the only living heir to the Imperial throne. He seems to struggle with his past deeds. He also voices confusion and anger with the daedra attacks, and he isn't proud. He reluctantly, yet purposefully steps into his role as the new Emperor. He's a genuinely relatable character, he's very human. Needless to say, he tops Vaan by a landslide.
When this dude showed up on screen, I was dismayed. I was thinking something like: "Oh, crap. This has got to be the worst hero ever." Capell is a regular guy, with regular problems. He struggles with his own inadequacies and is afraid to step up to the plate. It's easier to cut and run, and if I'm honest, I know what that is like. But, like with Capell, there come times in our lives when we have a chance to stand for what is right and to make a change in our world. Capell is pretty wimpy, and can be lame, but he is an honest human.
As time goes on he grows into a more selfless person. This guy is inspiring.
A totally wimpy, fearful person can rise to the occasion and do something heroic. To me, that kicks the crap out of your average game hero.
Riku was possibly the most relatable character for me in Kingdom Hearts. He strove to save his friends at any cost. Even though he made some bad decisions, his heart was in the right place, so to speak. When I played through, I found myself rooting for Riku rather than Sora. When it comes down to it, Riku is simply the more focused and dedicated of the two. So, if he's more relatable than Sora, he's definitely more relatable than Vaan.
Ethan is pretty much a regular guy. He can be a little goofy, and is sometimes full of himself, or hot-headed. I can really sympathize with the guy. I didn't like him at first, but he grew on me (like many main characters). Definitely easier to relate to than Vaan.
Carth is easy to relate to for just about anyone who has trouble trusting.
Siegfried Schtauffen has done some truly evil things in the past. Now he is seeking to atone for what he has done. Although he cannot truly set right what he's done, I can relate to Siegfried. I think we all can. He's a man who has done some things that he is not proud of, and he is willing to step up to do all he can to make things right.
Galen Marek is a believable human character who has to overcome lies and discover who he really is.
Wakka is an awesome character. He's a real, down-to-earth, everyday, normal sort of guy. He seems like he would be cool to hang with. That's a lot more than I can say for Vaan.
Erandur is a guy with a shady past, who is moving forward to a better life. Vaan is a street kid who wants to be a sky pirate.
A good kid who loves his friends and always does his best to do the right thing.
He's just trying to do what he thinks is best. He's completely insane, but there it is.
