Shuuji Kayama is a popular figure in the world ofDigimon Survive, but for all the wrong reasons. The fan base hates him for his mistreatment of Lopmon and his hypocrisy, feigning courage when he is a coward. Some believe the hate for his courage and leadership is misdirected, as his leadership position inDigimon Survivewas assigned to him by the other kids since Shuuji was the oldest among them. Shuuji knows he can’t lead, but he has no choice but to accept the position. Unfortunately, he has no accountability in his role, as he blames other kids for even the slightest mistakes. His lack of leadership gets the group into trouble at times. However, Shuuji displays some good qualities when he reassures the group when they lose The Professor to the bridge and Ryo to the fog.
Another thing fans note is Shuuji’s ability to be amazingly selfish. InPart 5 ofDigimon Survive, when the other kids have lost faith in his leadership, Shuuji is left behind when they enter the sewer. While it is clear that he can still play a role, he attempts to commit suicide by sacrificing himself to Megaseadramon as a form of escape from having to win back the group’s trust, although his attempt proves unsuccessful. Shuuji lashes out at Lopmon to deflect any attention given to him. His stubbornness and refusal to open up to others and accept help even when it can benefit himself and the group frustrates fans. His angry outburst - physical and emotional - at Lopmon leads to his demise as the Digimon Digivolves into a dark evolution called Wendigomon. His death occurs in the first playthrough of Part 5 of the series before he gets a redemption arc, which is yet another thing that angers gamers.
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Shuuji’s Behavior Leads to His Death
Shuuji is so unpopular that some fans of theDigimon Surviveseries celebrated his death.Wendigomon defeats Megaseadramon on Shuuji’s request, and then turns on him, eating him alive. Some say that Lopmon, now Wendigomon, had enough of the constant abuse at the hands of Shuuji. Reasons for Shuuji’s abusive behavior are not hard to find. He had an emotionally difficult childhood, growing up with a highly successful father who constantly expected perfection from him, not allowing Shuuji to make any youthful mistakes. As a result, he grew up with a tendency to strictly adhere to societal norms, even when doing so offers no benefit.
The parallels between his behavior toward Lopmon and his experiences from his upbringing are easy to draw. Shuuji is abusive to Lopmon because it reminds him of his younger self - they share similar backstories.Lopmon has a twin called Terriremonand is constantly compared to it, dismissed as the weaker of the two by many people. Shuuji endured a similar experience with his older brother. These comparisons played a role in Shuuji’s leaving home to join the camp in the first place. Shuuji tries to “fix” Lopmon’s weakness, but in the process becomes like his father, demanding perfection from his Digimon partner at every turn.
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Shuuji’s Maltreatment Directly Influences the Plot
More puzzling to fans and contributing to his unpopular reputation is Shuuji’s relationship with other Digimon, which is noticeably friendlier and gentle. In Part 5,Shuuji is against Haru and Miyuki joining the groupto traverse the underground waterway. The player’s choice is insignificant in this scene, as Aoi and Minoru overrule if the player sides with Shuuji ahead of Minoru. After this scene, the group is in a forest when tensions boil over. Minoru, Kaito, and Saki challenge Shuuji on his maltreatment of Lopmon, with the first two ready to fight him physically. The three kids calling out Shuuji’s bad behavior does not affect the group’s ability to function as a unit.
In Part 6 ofDigimon Survive, which takes place in the aftermath of Shuuji’s death, The Professor blames himself for the unfortunate incident.He believes that Lopmon’s kind, the Kemonogami, mirrors the mental state and inner emotions of their human partner. Therefore, Shuuji’s unlikeable character directly influences the destiny of Lopmon, leading to his demise. His death also traumatizes some group members later in the story, which fans detest. The cycle of cruelty from Shuuji to Lopmon is broken in the Truthful Route, as Shuuji acknowledges his terrible behavior and apologizes to Lopmon. He begins to emulate the behavior of The Professor, creating a better experience for himself and his Digimon. While Shuuji has his moments and plays a huge role in the overall story, most fans are unable to look past his abuse of Lopmon.
Digimon Surviveis available on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
