I was working with 9 HP on Very Hard mode. It wasn't too hard at first. Definitely, the hardest part was that Gohma. No, I actually didn't try the Flamethrower. I just had the Red Candle, and eventually got the Boomerang.

I'm not even sure if I saved my game after I got to L2. O.o

Oh, can I go back to L1 if I ever get the power gauntlets? There's a room to the south of the starting room with pushable blocks that I couldn't push. Also, there's a room to the west of the starting room with a 1-way shutter. What's up with that? :p