I don't think high gfx / cinematic games does make a game hardcore. People always referring to that, while developers making aaa games for the mainstream/casual and not for the core public. It's starting with kids and stops with people below 40.
They are trying mostly to make movie/sport games mostly with one way path and many scenes. This doesn't mean that those games are made for core players, but also not mean that they are bad.
I know core people can enjoy those games too. But comparing with games from pc like Starcracft2 or fps games are far off, those are the hardcore games.
Nintendo games maybe doesn't look mature, but their focus are also for all players. But they arent focus on the story but more on gameplay and fun factor. Also they try for hardcore gamers to have always something extra so there is always something to do in the game that is a challenge for them. Like mariogalaxy getting all the stars.
You would be surprised how many ps4 owners are kids or casual players.
It's just a wrong mindset, nx doesn't have to be for other public, it can be the same public that also want to enjoy those kind of games.