So after some experimenting, it seems that the pistol and the machinegun are roughly balanced. The machinegun kills enemies slightly faster, but the pistol is more powerful and actually ends up being more useful for the rolling guards (and at long range since it's slightly easier to aim with). But I can't seem to figure out the use for the dual pistols. Anyone else think they're a little underpowered?

On a somewhat related note, can anyone figure out how the weapon loss system works? I respawn with only the pistol if I die and restart at the first checkpoint, but keep everything if I die and respawn at a checkpoint other than the first.

On the restart-at-first-checkpoint thing, I'm not sure if it's intended -- it may be a bug, since using Restart Level puts you back at the start with whatever weapons you had.

I've noticed that too. Restarting from the first checkpoint forgets all your equipment, but restarting the level remembers it. Definitely a bug.

Can't say I'd noticed the power difference in the bullet weapons. I'd just assumed that, like the first game, it was pointless to use the "lesser" weapons once you have an upgrade.

Well, in the first game things were a little... weird. If you used the lives system, the weapon balance made sense. You would restart each level after losing a life with only a pistol, but there was often a nearby secret area with another pistol. And the MP40 could be re-acquired along the way. So in that case having a clear weapon hierarchy made sense. Setting aside the fact that the game became a frustrating mess after the first episode if you tried playing with the lives system :P

But in the new game, they seem to have (rightly so) tried to balance all the bullet weapons. Seriously, try using the pistol. It's arguably just as effective as the MP40, if perhaps a tiny bit slower.