Also worth considering is Edge being a physical publication obviously has a cover. So early code is also a competition from devs for cover space. That's also probably part of the reason they have the leverage. Giving them your code early if you are a big, promising release means you may end up on the cover.

Yet Splatoon 2 got an 8. It was released on July 21st, yet reviewed in their magazine that released August 12th. 

The same issue that reviews Super Mario Odyssey is reviewing Metroid: Samus Returns. Metroid released September 15th and did not get a perfect score.

No? Nothing? ok...

Not off the top of my head, but 1) I'm not a law professor, I don't have case law memorized or on my shelf and 2) 99.999% of publishers would never in a million years do something so profoundly stupid.  They don't even send much in the way of swag to publications, not even t shirts.  These companies are surrounded by lawyers that would tear them a new one if they ever did something so stupid.  Edge is respected but no single review outlet is worth the risk.  And especially given the frequency of leaks in the industry.  It's much safer and more worth it to spend money on marketing.

The only bribery attempts I've seen from publishers/devs was from indies who seem to buy into the "all these sites are bribed all the time" myth, the result being many sites and YouTubers won't review their game at all.

It seems to be quoted as respected every time it gives a game anyone cares about a good score. SMO is my most anticipated game, but I still question Nintendo and EDGE. I guess its just how my mind works. I dont blindly accept everything. Even if they are respected.

Was going to keep this going but fuck it. I'm done with this guilty-until-proven-innocent one man witch hunt BS. Once the conspiracy theorist "I'm just not a sheep" retort comes out, I'm done.

Yeah, opinions have no place in discussions!

I don't give a crap what your *opinions* are but you aren't giving an opinion.  You are digging you heels in, declaring your opinions fact, and demanding people dig through THOUSANDS of reviews given out over decades to find proof of innosence over an accusation made that has no evidentiary basis in the first place.

And more importantly, I do care when you casually brush off those disagreeng with you as sheep who blindly accept things while you are some keen intelect.  Forgive me if I find that condescending.

I gave you two examples. I just googled "Splatoon 2 EDGE review" and "Metroid: Samus Returns EDGE review". It was pretty easy...

Dude! Accept the score and wait for other reviewers. If majority gives it a 10 as well...... Then WHAT???????

Im sure it will get alot of 10s. Thats not really the issue...