Sanzo and the crew chasing a cosmic macguffin through the Saiyuki universe on a deadline that nobody asked for feels like catching the show in the middle of something bigger that keeps moving whether you're paying attention or not. The appeal isn't the Pearl Jade itself, it's watching these four people bicker and fight their way through chaos because some merciful goddess decided they were the fix to a problem that just dropped from the sky. One episode means it vanishes before you settle in, which is exactly the point: this is what Saiyuki is, compressed into the smallest possible shape, and either you're already sold on these characters or you're not.

A celestial artifact tumbles toward Earth, carrying the power to fulfill any desire. Dr. Ni informs Gyokumen Koushu about the Pearl Jade, and Lirin, having overheard, passes the news to Kougaiji. Meanwhile, Kanzeon Bosatsu orders Sanzo and his companions Goku, Gojyo and Hakkai to locate the jewel and seal it before the wrong people get hold of it. This fantasy adventure OVA was assembled from the animated scenes of an interactive game.