Is this game series good on PC control wise?

[Flynn]

I was planning to purchase the games considering I've always been into DMC, but never had the opportunity to purchase it and with the sale? I was curious:

How does the HD Collection handle for PC controls? Is a controller a better alternative?

I was mostly wondering, given the cheap price points, and given DMC as far as I can tell as a series is a 'Oldie but a goody', I was willing to give it a shot, though I am mostly a PC guy.

[Director Bison]

The games were all designed with a controller in mind. DMC1,2,3,&4 have Keyboard only controls. The Reboot DmC, and DMC5 actually use the Mouse.

The keyboard controls aren't bad, but 1-4 don't display the keyboard button prompts. The lack of Mouse control isn't as bad as it sounds either. 1-4 are mostly fixed camera games, you rarely get to control the camera in 3 and 4, and even when you can move the camera combat uses a hard lock on so there isn't any need for manual camera control.
If you choose to learn the Keyboard controls they function perfectly fine.

[Flynn]

Originally posted by Director Bison:

The games were all designed with a controller in mind. DMC1,2,3,&4 have Keyboard only controls. The Reboot DmC, and DMC5 actually use the Mouse.

The keyboard controls aren't bad, but 1-4 don't display the keyboard button prompts. The lack of Mouse control isn't as bad as it sounds either. 1-4 are mostly fixed camera games, you rarely get to control the camera in 3 and 4, and even when you can move the camera combat uses a hard lock on so there isn't any need for manual camera control.
If you choose to learn the Keyboard controls they function perfectly fine.

Alright. Any control tips that I should know about by chance? I also have heard of a few mods due to the resolution, but that's not too much of a problem.

[Director Bison]

When it comes to the fixed camera some people have the problem where they'll keep changing directions and get stuck between camera angle changes. If you keep holding the direction you're moving when the angle switch's you'll keep moving forward until you manual change direction. "this might be more noticeable on a control stick"

The main thing that may make Devil May Cry's controls feel different is that they correlate to the direction the character is facing. If you want to preform a move like Stinger, you hold Lock on, and then move toward your target, and hit melee. To preform Hightime which is a move that launches enemies in the air, you move in the opposite direction. Lock on, Backward, Melee. If you hold Melee during Hightime you will follow the enemy into the air, tapping it you stay on the ground.

Each game has pause combos, "except DMC2 which makes combos change based on when you hit a direction during a combo" but DMC1's has one pause combo that's a tad more complex. You have your basic 3 hit combo, "1,2,3" but you also have million stab, which will go "1,2--33333" but there is also a 5 hit combo that has tighter timing then Million stab where you don't pause as long. "1,2-3,4,5"
You should get a feel for it when you start playing. You can also insert Hightime or Stinger into any part of these combos, there is also the ability Roundtrip where you throw your sword like a boomerang, most of the other games make Roundtrip more restrictive to activate, but in DMC1 you can use Roundtrip at any point in a combo, and it doesn't need to be fully charged for you to release.

There are some alternate gameplay segments in DMC1 where you're controls will be inverted, on controller at least the stick is inverted, but the d-pad is un-inverted.
I'm not sure if there is an equivalent on keyboard.

[Director Bison]

Looking at the default Keyboad controls. I'll translate what they are for you.
first it shows the Xbox controller then the keyboard key
(Y) = i - Melee
(X) = J - Shoot
(A) = K - Jump
(B) = L - interact or Shoot in DMC1, Dodge in DMC2, Fighting Style action in DMC3
(LB) = N - Devil Trigger
(RB) = Space - Lock On
(LT) = Q - Map screen in DMC1, Change Gun in DMC2 and DMC3
(RT) = E - Taunt in DMC1, Disable soft lock on in DMC2 ,Change Melee Weapon in DMC3
(Back) = Right Shift - Pause Menu in DMC1 and DMC2, Taunt in DMC3.
(Start) = M - Alt Pause Menu
(Left Stick Click) = C - change lock on target in DMC2 and DMC3
(Right Stick Click) = F - in DMC1 this lets you change Melee weapons between Alastor and Ifrit once you have both weapons, Reset Camera in DMC3

(Left Stick) = WASD - movement

(Right Stick) = number pad 8426 - this is camera control in DMC3 during the times it lets you move the camera.
In DMC1 8 and 2 will let you choose the the short or the long taunt. Taunting will refill your Devil Trigger gauge btw.

[Flynn]

Originally posted by Director Bison:

Looking at the default Keyboad controls. I'll translate what they are for you.
first it shows the Xbox controller then the keyboard key
(Y) = i - Melee
(X) = J - Shoot
(A) = K - Jump
(B) = L - interact or Shoot in DMC1, Dodge in DMC2, Fighting Style action in DMC3
(LB) = N - Devil Trigger
(RB) = Space - Lock On
(LT) = Q - Map screen in DMC1, Change Gun in DMC2 and DMC3
(RT) = E - Taunt in DMC1, Disable soft lock on in DMC2 ,Change Melee Weapon in DMC3
(Back) = Right Shift - Pause Menu in DMC1 and DMC2, Taunt in DMC3.
(Start) = M - Alt Pause Menu
(Left Stick Click) = C - change lock on target in DMC2 and DMC3
(Right Stick Click) = F - in DMC1 this lets you change Melee weapons between Alastor and Ifrit once you have both weapons, Reset Camera in DMC3

(Left Stick) = WASD - movement

(Right Stick) = number pad 8426 - this is camera control in DMC3 during the times it lets you move the camera.
In DMC1 8 and 2 will let you choose the the short or the long taunt. Taunting will refill your Devil Trigger gauge btw.

Good lord!! Those PC Controls are rather nuts. I think I can understand why most would use a controller for this. Does this work with a Xbox controller? (I have one that plugs in Via USB)

[Director Bison]

The keyboard controls look complex if you haven't played the game before, but if you're already familiar with how the game plays they make sense. regardless, yes a USB Xbox controller should work. Xbox is the standard for most PC games with controller support, unless it's a game from before 2007.

[Flynn]

Originally posted by Director Bison:

The keyboard controls look complex if you haven't played the game before, but if you're already familiar with how the game plays they make sense. regardless, yes a USB Xbox controller should work. Xbox is the standard for most PC games with controller support, unless it's a game from before 2007.

Well I haven't before honestly, thank you however. I do appreciate it. Everywhere I looked I wasn't able to figure out the controls before I make the purchase.

[Director Bison]

You're welcome. DMC1 is my Favorited game of all time, and Devil May Cry is my favorited game series tied with Ninja Gaiden, which I'd also very much recommend if you end up enjoying DMC.

[Flynn]

Originally posted by Director Bison:

You're welcome. DMC1 is my Favorited game of all time, and Devil May Cry is my favorited game series tied with Ninja Gaiden, which I'd also very much recommend if you end up enjoying DMC.

Also quick question: Mostly because my Power Supply did this before.

Should I unplug the mouse and use the controller or have both? I ask because last time I did this my.. Power Supply nearly.. uh.. died and exploded.. more like it popped and is still working. xD

[Director Bison]

Can't say I'v ever experienced anything like that before, so I wouldn't know. If you feel it's safer to unplug the mouse then it is what it is, but you might want get that Power Supply looked at by an expert, and see if you should buy a new one.

[Electric Cupcake]

I haven't actually tried playing on keyboard, but I suspect Mavis Beacon herself would have trouble juggling those keystrokes.

A lot of people insist on having the style switcher mod, but it was never a part of the gameplay until DMC4. Spending two minutes to backtrack to a Goddess Statue to change loadout is a minor price to pay for not being prepared.

[OST]

Originally posted by Electric Cupcake:

I haven't actually tried playing on keyboard, but I suspect Mavis Beacon herself would have trouble juggling those keystrokes.

A lot of people insist on having the style switcher mod, but it was never a part of the gameplay until DMC4. Spending two minutes to backtrack to a Goddess Statue to change loadout is a minor price to pay for not being prepared.

The point of the style switcher mod isn't to make switching to a different style between fights more convenient, but to enable style switching during fights, in order to increase your options for stringing together combos. DMC3 is a solid game even without on-the-fly switching, but it makes things more interesting for players who have a lot of hours in the game. Capcom themselves have made this an option in the Switch port. Playing the game on KB isn't particularly difficult, with or without style switching.

[Director Bison]

DMC3 didn't release with Style Switching, and the game is designed in such a way that you only need 1 style at a time. but if the PS2 could have handled it, the game possibly would have ended up with the system that DMC5 uses. Where you can switch between styles, and customise how many Devil Arms and Guns you want equipped at once.

The DDMK mod simply gives you the freedom to have as access to these options the Series was always going to have eventually, for example it lets you equip Air Hike to ever weapon in DMC3, not just 3 of them. Only certainly weapons being capable of Air Hike is a hold over that works with how DMC1 is designed, but it doesn't make sense in DMC3.