I really liked Glenn, Nikki, Harle, and Norris a lot. Some other characters too, but those were the ones I usually used the most.

I wouldn't cut down the cast because I actually had fun recruiting characters in the game and whatnot. A lot of people get hung up on the cast of characters when the way the story was told focused on Serge, which was exactly how they should have done it, and the game's universe carried itself properly. It felt more authentic and real to have a sea of characters that just happen to get caught in the mix. There are enough games that point at a handful of late teens/very young adults and proclaim that they are the chosen ones or whatever.