The first of these mechanics is, of course, Indy's whip. With it, he can stun enemies, grapple across chasms and pull at wall switches. But Indy's whip isn't the only added weapon. Actually several characters, from natives to German soldiers, have items they use to attack. Before playing in Free Play mode, you have access to Satipo's shovel, Jock's wrench and you can even pick up spears and cross bows from the attacking natives.
The demo's Free Play mode lets you cycle between those characters, a German soldier who throws grenades, Short Round, a priest of Kali Ma, and several other characters that have specific abilities. One of these characters is Indy's dad, who carries with him a book that he uses to translate hieroglyphics and open up various doors, while Willie can use her shrill scream to break glass. All of these skills are necessary in order to get all of the Golden Treasure Chests scattered about the level (these are analogous to the mini-kits found in the Star Wars games).