In this story and its sequel, Shin Momotaro Densetsu, Shuten Doji is depicted as a rival of the hero characters rather than a villain because he is a royal vassal of Yama, the King of Hell, is highly trusted by his Four Retainers as well as many other ogres, and makes a fight fair and square with no cheap tricks.
この作品や続編の新桃太郎伝説では閻魔大王に忠誠をちかっており、配下の四天王を始め多くの鬼達から信頼を寄せられており、小細工なしの正々堂々とした戦いを挑むなど従来の悪役というよりも敵役の様なキャラクターになっている。