Secret of Evermore is definitely an underrated title. It's got problems, but it includes some interesting mechanics, and it was developed in Square's US studio so its themes and tone are more accessible to Western players.
It was the first game for which Jeremy Soule composed the music. He later went on to compose music for Neverwinter Nights and multiple Elder Scrolls titles, including the Dragonborn theme.
Also I heard he's a sex pest.