For clarification to slightly younger readers who may not immediately think of it, unless this same boss style is repeated (which I don't believe is the case), you're talking about North America's original FF2 / Japan and modern release FF4 on the SNES starring Cecil & Co. with the first big appearance of the ATB gauge, not Japan & Modern NES FF2 starring Firion & Co. with the per-weapon experience and code-word system, correct?

Sorry, no disrespect meant — I couldn’t help but read this paragraph in my head as The Simpsons’ Comic Book Guy.

None taken! I know I sound pedantic, but I sincerely meant it to help anyone who grew up post-FF7.

Yep. The game had a “Wall” effect which would bounce any spell you cast on them back on yourself.

But, what if both the players and the monsters both had Wall active? That situation would have an infinite recursion problem. The solution for the game was to say that a spell could only bounce once. That solution led naturally to monsters that always had Wall up and would cast a lot of spells so that you could defeat them by using Wall on yourself.

Secrets of Mana, and Chronos Trigger, are my favourites.

As well as Shinning Force, Breath of Fire, Phantasy Star, and Illusion of Gaia.

I just replayed Secret of Mana on an original SNES co-op with my spouse and it was truly awesome. Many people who have played a lot of JRPGs still haven't played it.

And I'll second the Octopath Traveler recommendation!

Oh yes, Chrono Trigger and Secret of Mana! So good! By the way: Octopath Traveler came out for Nintendo Switch a few weeks ago and is awesome (a modern JRPG). Its stories are good but not as deep. Gameplay and music are really great.

Planning to get it at end of October. Can't wait. Everyone has nothing but good things to say.

The music is phenomenal. Soundtracks are floating around on YouTube and such if you don't have time to play the game. I found it great to listen to while working.