Mountain Biking - Bike that works for XC and freestyle?

Im in the market for my first "real" mountian bike and have read alot of the forums for decent bikes around the 500 range. I wanted a bike that was both comfortable enough to climb in the foothills but also sturdy enough to do freestyle and jumps. Ive been hitting up all my lbs and one of them had a Gary Fisher Mullet. Its meant as a freestyle bike, but the reviews I've read have said its also decent for climbing. Does anyone else have any reccomendations for a bike that would do both in that price range? In the end it doesnt have to be 50/50 exact. Id rather lean more towards sturdy than complete comfort. So lets say 60/40 freestyle to XC. Thanks.

If you could find last years Trek Bruiser somewhere, those are great. Trek owns gary fisher, so the bruiser 2 has almost the exact same specs as the Mullet.

Norco Makes a few bikes like that too, under Shore hardtail category.

specialized hardrocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rocky Mountain Slayer.

Thanks for the replies. I actually went to the shop yesterday and tested out a specialized hardrock and the gary fisher mullet. The geometry of the hardrock was definitely a little more comfortable for XC, but the forks felt a little more squishy. The geometry of the mullet wasn't so low and back that I would be uncomfortable trailing or climbing with it and the frame seemed more sturdy and fun for what I want to use it for. Alot more of dirt jump/freestyle stuff. I think I decided on the mullet and may go buy it today. Any last comments or suggestions? Thanks.