This is an excellent game.
I broadly affirm most of the feedback, but I would like to specifically denounce the complaints regarding the "bad" weapons, as it is in fact good game design to have them. Spawning with the cheap blade is indeed a near certain loss, but it is a bit fun to desperately scramble across the map evading monsters and looking for a legitimate weapon. This adds a bit of variety to the opening strategy employed.
Also, the shite weapons add to the lovecraftian sense of tension when getting a weapon box. What's in the box? Will it be some arcane viscera? The red shotgun? Oh no, it's a wrench... It really could be anything...
One thought along these lines is that there had aught to be some powerful melee weapon. Then the shoddier melee weapons might open the player up to a build focussed on melee, in so far as one has control of their build (perhaps the buff braziers could offer one of three upgrades, permitting some choice? A number of similar games have done this well.)
Looking forward to seeing your continued success!