Very Fun Game Hurt By A Truly Terrible PC Port
1) You will absolutely have to buy a gamepad to play this game. Yes, there are keyboard equivalencies, but they're not designed to be used by non-mutant, ten-fingered human hands in the heat of battle.
1a) The game doesn't detect all gamepads properly. I use a wireless XBox 360 controller, and the game ignores at least 4 of the buttons, leaving me with some functions keyboard-only. Worse, you can't map every single function at will. Some are unchangeable.
I imagine that, since DMC 3 was originally a PS2 game, your best bet would be to buy a Logitech gamepad, as **I'm told** (note that) these gampads actually emulate the Playstation controls more closely than the XBox set.
Again, I was **told** this about Logitech gamepads. I have not tried it myself. Buyer be wary.
2) To exit the game, hold down the Alt key and press the F4 key. Yup, this PC port doesn't even have an obvious way to quit the game! I found this detail buried in the Readme text!
This should give you an idea of the quality of port to expect. Likewise, have you ever seen another PC game that expects you to use the Escape key (as opposed to Enter, or left-mouse-click) to select menu options? Me neither.
3) Get it cheap, and don't expect PC level graphics.
Because you'll be wrestling with the weird port control schemes (especially if the game decides it doesn't want to fully recognize all your gamepad buttons) don't pay big bucks for this game. I got mine at EB for about ten bucks US, and I can't see charging more than that for it. This game is fun and stylish, yes, but the port sucks, as I've been saying.
The graphics have tons of slick style, with that whole anime-meets-wushu-meets-music-video-meets-action-movie-vibe, but the actual graphics themselves are definitely old-school by PC standards. Great design, and a lot of inventiveness and spirit, but the actual art is not going to amaze you. It's last-gen Playstation 2 quality, and older PS2 quality, in fact.
4) You may have more fun playing on Easy mode.
Depending on how well the game likes your gamepad (as above, It doesn't like my XBox controller much) you may want to play the game on Easy to save on frustration.
After you die something like two or three times while attempting the first boss battle (which comes quickly -- two battles in) , a pop-up will announce that Easy mode has unlocked. If you find you're fighting the gamepad controls too much to do as well as you'd like, you may want to take this option. The game's worth seeing; don't let pride keep you from having a look.
IN CONCLUSION
Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition is the kind of fast, frantic, cinematic action-fest we just don't get on the PC. There's a backstory, of course, but don't be fooled: this game is about kicking demon buttocks, and trying to look as cool as possible while doing so.
The change-of-pace alone makes it worth a look for PC gamers -- but be aware of all the things I mentioned. This is a game you're going to have to fidget with, and even then, it may not be worth it to you. Especially since you essentially have to buy a gamepad to play it.
If you don't have the patience to deal with a sucky port in order to enjoy the adrenaline action, I notice that Devil May Cry 4 is slated for release in January of 2008, coming out at the same time as the console versions.
Perhaps this time, Capcom will give us a truly PC-friendly port.