just wondering newby to game programming here. I was thinking of adding a character to my level but...

if you want to have a character or yourself the player move around on a landscape that has hills should you use physics for that or if not what keeps the character moving up and over the landscape as you press forward key etc.
I have seen cars move around on hills etc. I assume they are using physics which is fine I get that.
Do characters move over landscapes the same way technically speaking in most games?
The wizard tut is great but focusses on up down forward backward. Just looking for advice on how to make characters move over the landscape. Maybe glide is the answer. Any good tuts on movement over landscapes?

thanks