I will second "fetch quests". Its fine when its crafted well into the story but not when the game hands you a list and tells you to get to work. I also hate puzzles that require opening doors by acquiring random objects. I'm looking at you Capcom.

I also hate uber bastard villains with sob past story. Its like the writers try at the last minute to add some depth to the character cause he's been a evil villain stereotype for most of the game and then we get some drawn out flashback showing how he's just a tortured soul... I'd rather have a conflicted antagonist or an evil villain who is evil for the sake of being evil than some Two-dimensional cliche with a back story that's suppose to justify why they are better and more thought out...

My main pet peeve is the industry's continual insistence on making games so easy the only qualification to complete them is to be breathing. Not even conscious, just breathing... Its not that I want games to be uber difficult and require months of dedication to complete, rather I just wish I could earn my rewards better and actually have to think and be engaged to complete it. Some games nowaday are so easy its like saying you played a good game of football cause you watched the game last night on the television.

Having the camera be controlled by anything but the second analog stick (where it applies). This is so frustrating at times when the game feels the shoulder button or the smurfing D-pad is the place for camera controls.