The issue was apparently that I didn't realize the player started in the top-left of the screen. I thought I was meant to control the character that starts in t

The issue was apparently that I didn't realize the player started in the top-left of the screen. I thought I was meant to control the character that starts in the center of the screen and starts moving immediately (like pac-man). Controls are still a bit clunky (slow to respond), but do work.