Controls

ZZT can be controlled using three input methods:

• the keyboard:
  • arrow keys control the player,
  • the SHIFT modifier is used to shoot.
  • the Space bar can be used to shoot in the last shot's direction.
• the joystick:
  • joystick directions control the player,
  • the joystick button is used to shoot.
• the mouse:
  • mouse movements control the player,
  • the left mouse button is used to shoot,
  • the right/middle mouse button is used for "sticky" movement (the player doesn't stop when the mouse ceases moving).

These refer to the game as it runs on original hardware; emulators and ports are not guaranteed to provide the same set of functionalities.

Non-keyboard input methods still accept keyboard inputs; this is done as other actions (such as lighting torches or pausing the game) still require use of the keyboard.

Quirks

• The Space bar functionality was only added in the final release of ZZT 3.2.
• As non-keyboard input methods accept keyboard inputs, one can use them to move the player and pause the game in the same tick. As pausing is done immediately after the player's tick, resuming restarts ticking from the beginning, and the player is guaranteed to be the first stat ticked, this allows moving the player while inhibiting all other stats, such as objects and enemies. This is referred to as the pause bug and can be used as a speed-running technique.