That sounds like the platform is relatively complex. I've seen Java/JavaEE/Spring code where it was easy to get started, since the platform was built as simple as possible. I've also seen Big Balls of Mud where a developer needed months to be somewhat productive. So the question shouldn't be: "Is my platform brown?" But rather: "Have you ever worked on a freaking castle with hundreds of secret passages?".

Sometimes complexity is unavoidable. The interviewer may ask a question like: "What are your experiences with complex code/legacy code?" (If the interviewer is able to accept the reality of course)