diff --git a/scenes/player/player.gd b/scenes/player/player.gd
index 9c7738e..f208373 100644
--- a/scenes/player/player.gd
+++ b/scenes/player/player.gd
@@ -8,8 +8,31 @@ const DEADZONE = 0.1
 @onready var sprite: AnimatedSprite2D = $AnimatedSprite2D
 @onready var state_machine: StateMachine = $StateMachine
 
+var h_press_tick: int = 0  ## last time horizontal axis was pressed
+var v_press_tick: int = 0  ## last time vertical axis was pressed
+
+
+func _input(event: InputEvent) -> void:
+	if event.is_action_pressed("move_left") or event.is_action_pressed("move_right"):
+		h_press_tick = Time.get_ticks_msec()
+	if event.is_action_pressed("move_up") or event.is_action_pressed("move_down"):
+		v_press_tick = Time.get_ticks_msec()
+
 
 func get_movement_vector() -> Vector2:
-	var x_mov: float = Input.get_action_strength('move_right') - Input.get_action_strength('move_left')
-	var y_mov: float = Input.get_action_strength('move_down') - Input.get_action_strength('move_up')
-	return Vector2(x_mov, y_mov)
+	var x_strength: float = Input.get_action_strength("move_right") - Input.get_action_strength("move_left")
+	var y_strength: float = Input.get_action_strength("move_down") - Input.get_action_strength("move_up")
+	
+	if abs(x_strength) < DEADZONE and abs(y_strength) < DEADZONE:
+		return Vector2.ZERO
+	
+	if abs(x_strength) < DEADZONE:
+		return Vector2(0, signf(y_strength))
+	if abs(y_strength) < DEADZONE:
+		return Vector2(signf(x_strength), 0)
+	
+	# use most recent axis press
+	if h_press_tick > v_press_tick:
+		return Vector2(signf(x_strength), 0)
+	else:
+		return Vector2(0, signf(y_strength))
diff --git a/scenes/player/states/player_idle.gd b/scenes/player/states/player_idle.gd
index 960b36c..55b1216 100644
--- a/scenes/player/states/player_idle.gd
+++ b/scenes/player/states/player_idle.gd
@@ -6,11 +6,10 @@ var next_state: StringName
 
 func _enter(_previous_state_path: String, _data: Dictionary[StringName, Variant] = {}) -> void:
 	print('entering idle')
-	
 	player.velocity = Vector2.ZERO
 	player.move_and_slide()
 	
-	# TODO: animations
+	player.sprite.play("idle")
 	
 	print('entered')
 
diff --git a/scenes/player/states/player_walking.gd b/scenes/player/states/player_walking.gd
index 8758c26..db67b25 100644
--- a/scenes/player/states/player_walking.gd
+++ b/scenes/player/states/player_walking.gd
@@ -10,13 +10,15 @@ func _enter(_previous_state_path: String, _data: Dictionary = {}) -> void:
 
 
 func _state_physics_update(_delta: float) -> void:
-	var movement_vector: Vector2 = player.get_movement_vector()
-	var direction: Vector2 = movement_vector.normalized()
+	var direction: Vector2 = player.get_movement_vector()
+	direction = direction.normalized()
 	player.velocity = direction * player.max_speed
 	
 	player.move_and_slide()
 	
 	if watch_state([WALKING]): return
 	
-	# TODO: animations
-	#player.sprite.play(player.anim_dir)
+	if direction.y > 0:
+		player.sprite.play("walk_down")
+	if direction.y < 0:
+		player.sprite.play("walk_up")