Advertisers trying to “buy” favorable reviews of their products is absolutely nothing new, but Microsoft has now elevated it to an art form.

Dean Takahashi, a game reviewer for the San Jose Mercury News, recently recieved a “small” gift from Microsoft, in the form of a Halo 3 “swag bag.” But this is no ordinary press kit full of pamphlets, trinkets, and maybe a T-shirt or watch or something. No, this gift bag contains an estimated $800 worth of Halo goodies, including: a replica Master Chief helmet; a first-aid kit; some food ostensibly supplied by the UNSC; an XBox360 Live headset; a pair of wireless controllers; and the coup de grace, a limited-edition Halo 3 360 system worth close to $500.

As Ron Simmons might say, “DAMN!”

Ah, but if Microsoft thought plying this reviewer with Christmas in late September would earn them a better review, they are sadly mistaken. Takahashi has said he’s sending the whole thing back to them, because it amounts to little more than (in his words) “a bribe to try to get me to be favorably inclined to accepting the idea that Halo 3 is ‘the entertainment event of the year.”

Good on you, Dean! It’s always nice to see at least one person in the mainstream media show a little integrity every now and then…