Truck, you're not the only one. Castlevania II has a lot of things going for it. There are a few flaws, such as terrible translation leading to mangled/incomprehensible clues, and in some cases random puzzles with no clues at all, but still a very fun game to play through...but it is one of the few games where I recommend not being afraid to use a FAQ when necessary.
I'd still say start with the original, then Castlevania III on NES. Castlevania III is a longer game with multiple paths and multiple endings, three different partner characters, new elements, etc. Plus it has the best soundtrack of any game for any system ever, period. And it's just as challenging, if not more so, than the original (a game many people describe as one of the harder games they've ever played).
In Memoriam RVW Jr.
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