Just 'cause you liked a character you knew nothing about and he got killed? You only seem to have liked him because he looked good. Its a fascinating, entertaining, dramatic, and gripping opening. Lots of action and emotion. It says a lot about someone's story-telling prowess, the producers and directors, to draw you in by getting you attached to a character in mere minutes and then having an emotional effect on you only minutes later by taking that character away. That opening is the biggest reason I plan on getting the game. Its got the story qualities of LotR (in which I think you're meant to get to know most if not all these characters in a more deep and personal manner than some previous entries [VII/VIII/IX] where some of your comrades are mostly filler) with the weird sci-fi political war-fare feel of Star Wars. Lots of things happening and I want in on it. FFVIII and IX were a chore to me. And X was a let-down. So I never touched X-2 or XI. I'm glad FFXII is taking things seriously for once. I'm not a big fan of Vaan either, but I'm told though he's your main character, and a central focus of the story, he's also in a lot of ways not really a big part of it. I've read in places where after you form a party, using him throughout the rest of the game is completely optional. And as you saw (and seem to complain about) the beginning and probably a lot of the story isn't about him. He's just placed into it. You experience it through him. But it isn't him you're experiencing. He's not going to be forced down your throat like previous leads (Tidus/Yuna?). At least that's the impression I've been given. Also, doesn't the story take place 2 years after that battle? A lot has happened since then, so you can't pick up right away using some soldier in that battle, it's over. Been over. So we'll see how it goes