Last week’s New York Toy Fair 2014 gave us our first chance to see all of the LEGO Star Wars Summer 2014 sets, and of that huge assortment of sets, one stood larger (and more expensive) than all of the rest: the 2014 LEGO Star Wars Imperial Star Destroyer 75055! This will be the eighth time that LEGO releases a set bearing the name of “Star Destroyer”, but does this set have what it takes to set itself apart as superior to its predecessors?

One of the most recognizable and iconic of all Star Wars vehicles is the Imperial Star Destroyer. Even though LEGO has released plenty of regular-sized, UCS and mini Star Destroyers over the years, there is pretty much always a demand for new and updated versions of the most powerful ships in the Empire’s fleet. So when I saw a new LEGO Imperial Star Destroyer pop up on the list of rumored LEGO Star Wars 2014 Summer sets, I wasn’t the least bit surprised.

The main gimmick of this new 2014 LEGO Imperial Star Destroyer 75055 is the spring-loaded missiles that it can shoot. The missiles are bright green on the prototype, which doesn’t make a lot of sense to me, as I thought the Star Destroyers fired red lasers? Also, this Star Destroyer will have a carrying handle so that kids (and master builders!) can fly the LEGO Star Destroyer around and play with it more easily.

My favorite thing about this LEGO 75055 set is probably the selection of minifigures. We get six minifigures include with this Star Destroyer, and all of them are technically “new” figures that have been upgraded in some way from their past releases. The set include a brand-new LEGO Darth Vader minifigure with removable helmet, a LEGO Imperial Crew minifigure, a LEGO Imperial Navy Trooper minifigure, a LEGO Imperial Officer minifigure and two LEGO Stormtroopers. The Imperial minifigures are especially nice, as we ordinarily wouldn’t get these LEGO characters with any other sets.

In addition to the six minifigures, there’s also a holographic Emperor Palpatine figurine included with the set. While there have been Emperor Palpatine holograms before, this one is an all-new remolded piece.

Unlike past LEGO Imperial Star Destroyer, 75055 LEGO can be opened up very neatly and easily both from the top and the sides of the set. Unfortunately, there’s really not much of an interior to this set to speak of–the bridge is very small and the insides of the ship just look like LEGO pieces. It’s really not the most inspired design, though I appreciate being able to open the set up so fully.

The LEGO Star Wars Imperial Star Destroyer 75055 is scheduled to be released in August 2014. The set will contain 1,359 pieces for $129.99, putting it at just under my sweet spot of ten cents per piece. I’ll update with official photos and more information regarding the LEGO Star Wars Summer 2014 sets as we get closer to their release, and you can ‘Like’ Bricks and Bloks on Facebook to have more LEGO news and photos sent straight to your Facebook Newsfeed.

What do you think of the newest LEGO Imperial Star Destroyer, LEGO fans? Is this a worthwhile upgrade to the LEGO Star Destroyers that have come before it, or is this LEGO Star Wars 2014 Imperial Star Destroyer a disappointment to you?