Semi-pacifist: Not directly but I had some luck with controller companion by creating a profile for dosbox. It's pretty easy considering this game only uses like six buttons. If you really want to use a controller try joytokey for a free option but Controller Companion is worth it in my opinion. Had to figure this out for a Let's Play I'm working on.
kieselmi: ^
Thanks, have to try this! I have this game on PS1 but it works only with the original first PSX Controller (no Dualshock) and the direction controles are so vague with it, that i cannot get past [spoiler] the stupid knight where you have to avoid his sword swings[/spoiler]...
Yeah the profile I laid out had the D-pad mapped to the arrow keys, A for space, X for inventory, B for Enter, Y for DOSBOX turbo, and start for ESC. I played through the whole game with no issues, including the part you mentioned.