You probably couldn't have picked a more hotly contested market! But you're right, all sorts of blurb from all different makers, and each bike shop will indeed try to sell you their own stock.
One thing I will say though, just cos it's right for a magazine, or a certain tester, doesn't necessarily make it right for you. But... Certainly well worth trying out though I'm sure.
For £1200, the Genesis Core 50 won the "What Mountain Bike of the year" award. I have a Genesis Altitude (same geometry, but steel rather than alloy frame) and I really like it a lot. Of course though, there are many other manufacturers out there...
Personally, I'd get and try a few out. Decide what's important to you. You may decide you want a lightweight XC bike, with short travel suspension forks and a lightweight build. Or you may decide you want to go the other way, you want something beefy with 140mm (possibly more!) travel forks, and a build that's going to last if you throw it off stuff. Or even somewhere in the middle...
As you're new to the sport, there'll probably be quite a bit of trial and error involved though, so best to do it BEFORE you commit to buy than after...