Well, assuming you mean the way DOS platformers like Jazz translated a controller layout to a keyboard, it's only logical to use the arrow keys for movement and the big Ctrl, Alt, and Space as action buttons. And yes the keyboard was and still is a great input source for many genres of games.

Even in newer games like Awesomenauts I like to stick with full-keyboard play even though you're at a disadvantage without mouse aiming. Same goes for JJ2+ (though I join in with mouse aiming during special JDC events and SP levels made for it).