chakkman: It says "Sidewinder game pad" in the in-game settings for my Xbox Wireless Controller as well. Whether or not that's "normal", or a false recognition, I can't tell. What I did notice, though, is that the button to get back in menus etc. is the X button, and really should be the B button on the Xbox Controller. Might have to do with the mapping of the original PS1 controller though.
Microsoft sidewinder game pads were standard controllers back then when this game was released. I think this is not a dynamic label, meaning, it won't change no matter what controller you have connected, because that's how it was originally designed, however, GOG might've changed it, it's very unlikely though.
The english and japanese versions have different controller schemas. At least on PS1, not sure about PC version. Your X button is mapped to the PS1 Square button and that is the "go back" button on one version or the other. It's been forever since I've played it on a controller so I'm not sure which version has which schema. You can always change the mappings in the menu anyways.
I actually had a Microsoft sidewinder plug and play game pad that had 6 buttons and a D-pad back then, fun times!