Skylanders' abilities

I have never (had the opportunity to have) played any iteration of Skylanders, but recently I've been reading a lot about how individualised and unique they are. I've seen them in various places, and understand that they all look (very, broadly or barely) different and "unique," but I'm trying to get a better understanding of how their abilities/weapons/moves are separate and individual...

Do they have different weapons? Do they use different limbs and appendages? Do they require variant button combinations? Or 'other'...?!

Any help or observations welcomed.

Yes, sometimes, no.

All, if not most, Skylanders have different weapons.

Only the Swap Force Skylanders, who are featured in the latest outing, Skylanders SWAP Force, can use different limbs that are not their own.

While the moves are different, Attack 1 (say, the A button) always performs Attack 1. Same goes for the other buttons.

If you don't understand me, just reply and I'll try to explain in greater detail.

Hope this helps!

Thanks.

So - in your (or anyone's) opinion - are there vast differences (other than look) between the characters, or is it mostly minor cosmetic ones..? Because 'just' different weapons doesn't sound like much...

Some of them are completely different from others, a lot even function very differently depending just on which upgrade path you pick for them.

For example, Camo is an excellent AoE mid-range splash attacker down Melon Master, but specialises in long range attacks and should be played keep-away on Vine Virtuouso.

I guarantee that you won't find many other characters who can effectively handle as many different roles as Pop Fizz or Sprocket.

Several are painfully similar, but most of them have at least one upgrade path that functions differently from other characters. Not everyone is totally unique but I guarantee- even those who function pretty much the same- for the most part, have enough changed like speed and rate of attacks to give them the tiniest niche in battle. Every Skylander has some purpose and can be used at some point.
For example, Flameslinger and Zap have the same moves on the surface, and it's best to play keep away with both, bit if you play through them you'll realise one does things the other has trouble with or can't do. Flameslinger is great at covering the field with hazards, and not even having to go in, due to his Volley Shot, Zap has to dash in to place slime. However, Zap isn't quite as flimsy, and it's easier for him to hit far away enemies with his wave, and he functions better in situations where you're surrounded. That would just be a situation where you should pick which values you prefer.

Basically, a bunch are nearly just cosmetic changes, but most of them function differently enough IMO.