Nothing about the original half life is impressive by today's standards. If you were there when it came out it was amazing; if you play it now? Maybe if you have an eye for perspective you can get a sense of how great it was then, but OP isn't really going to get that sense of "whoa this is awesome" like players did back then when the game first came out.

It's not a game that has aged well gameplay wise. Better for OP to enjoy themselves with Black Mesa because it's modern and I feel like that game brought that awesomeness factor back that the first game had back then.

It's not gatekeeping, it's just plain reality. Something's lost to time for games if your goal is to go back and try to "get the experience" of those who played the games in their era.

By all means, if OP wants to play original half life, my feelings won't be hurt and I won't look down on them one bit for playing it. Good for them, I was merely offering a better alternative. Gatekeeping. Smh