How does the joystick work

Depending on the system, the game, and the controller set-up you currently have it all depends. Most of the time the left joy stick controls the way you're character is facing and which way you want to turn them to look. While the right one moves them in the direction you choose. also there is a L3 and R3 buttons which and just the joysticks pushed down. Mostly these are for some kind of action button but not all games use these, although most newer games do. For more information consult a game manual as it will always tell you what your joystick controls are for in the current game, seeming how there not always the same.