[3-8] What are the default Quake controls?

Get a grip on Quake! Learn the essential keyboard and mouse controls for movement, weapons, and crucial actions to dominate the game.

Alright, so you're diving into Quake and wondering how to actually move around and shoot stuff? No worries, it's pretty standard stuff once you get the hang of it. You can actually tweak all of these in the Options Menu later, but it's good to know the defaults first. Just remember, you can't change the Function keys (F1-F12), the Escape key, or the tilde key (~). Everything else is fair game!

Here’s the rundown of the default controls:

Quick breakdown:

• Movement: Use the arrow keys to move and turn. If you want to go faster, hold down the Shift key for 'Run'. The Space bar or Enter key is your go-to for jumping or swimming.
• Sidestepping: The '.' and ',' keys (or '>' and '<' if you're thinking symbols) will let you sidestep left and right. Holding down the Alt key while using the arrow keys will make you strafe instead of turning – super useful for dodging fire!
• Looking around: You can use 'A' or Page Down to look up, and 'Z' or Delete to look down. 'X' or End will center your view. If you're using a mouse, sliding it forward and back while holding down the center mouse button (or the ' ' key) lets you look up and down smoothly. There's also a 'Keyboard Look' option with the 'Ins' key if you prefer.
• Weapons: The number keys 1 through 8 are your direct weapon select. 1 for the Axe, 2 for the Shotgun, and so on, all the way up to the Thunderbolt on 8. If you just want to cycle through them, the '/' key will change to your next weapon.
• Other Stuff: The Escape key brings up the Main Menu, and the tilde (~) key opens up the console for all sorts of advanced commands. You can also use the '+' and '-' keys to adjust your view area size.

Pro-Tip: Don't be afraid to mess around with the key configuration in the Options Menu. Finding a setup that feels natural for you will make a huge difference in how you play!