You can hold two swords?! I always just used a spear and a steel sword. Feral beasts weren't much trouble.

Yes, ironically I didn't figure this out until I had already beat the game.

You know, I thought that, but they seem to get stronger over time. Maybe I'm just imagining that, but without bolas they often seem to be able to take me down. That's even with a spear, both swords and a rifle.

I never use the laser rifle since it's a pain to get energy packs.

Maybe you just don't have the health upgrade. Once you get 20 health per cured meat the ferral beasts are much easier to keep at bay.

Where did you get the laser rifle? I beat the game, went to every square on the map, conquered every suburb. Never saw a laser rifle.

Grepping through the source turns up that there's a chance of getting a laser rifle as loot when you clear a city, or when you clear a battlefield.