ICS Sensation ROM for SGS2 by Crysis21

Sensation ICS for SGS2 is based on original Sammy firmware but with something extra - an HTC Sense 3 theme. According to the dev behind it (as stated on the original XDA thread), he is still working on a theme based on Sense 4.


Version reviewed in this post: 3.2 (there is now v3.4 available for download)


Developer: Crysis21 or @cristi_holdunu on Twitter.

Image source: Sensation ROM for SGS2 XDA thread

What works & Pros

• What works: Everything. Remember that Sensation ICS for SGS2 is based on original ICS firmware by Samsung so yeah. Everything works :-)
• Icons are different. I'm not familiar to HTC Sense 3.0 but icons of key applications are different. 
• Phone Dialer has a different UI. More beautiful than stock Samsung UI IMO.
• Great battery life. My phone lasts 14-16 hours on moderate internet usage (with backlight on minimum brightness most of the time. Lasts 12-13 hours on heavy internet and moderate phone use. I use Pulse, check out Streamzoo a lot, and have active sync for Facebook, Pulse, email, and Twitter/Facebook for LauncherPro widgets. Rarely text or call though.
• No sound on boot. I dunno with you but I like it. Crysis21 said he removed it in this version to prevent getting scolded at the library lol.
• Stock ICS lockscreen. Yes, Crysis21 removed the ugly slide lockscreen from Samsung and replaced it with the stock ICS version.
• Themed notifications drawer. It looks lovely. Also, there are more toggle selections to choose from - just slide across toggles to access them all.
• Select which toggles to display by going to QuickPanel Settings
• What I really like about the toggles is that positioning from last use is retained (as long as the phone doesn't restart).
• Themed status bar. The status bar is no longer black but bluish gray to match the notifications drawer. Battery status icon is blue and looks even cooler when charging.
• Recent apps view similar to stock Sammy. I like how it has the option to go to Task Manager so you can properly kill running apps.
• Samsung stock apps are pre-installed. Even though I barely use them, I think it's good that they're pre-installed.
• Option to remove Sammy apps. You'll have to flash an additional .zip file though, available for download at 7 Droids.
• Apps: Unless you uninstall original Sammy apps, you'll notice that there are two of almost everything - Gallery, Music Player, and Video Player; each from either Samsung or stock ICS firmware. Uninstalling Sammy apps would leave only stock ICS apps except for the Camera and Browser which remain to be stock Samsung apps.
• Turn of touch lights, battery saver, and all Sammy functions are still there.

Bugs & Cons

• Bugs: There's only one I noticed. The WiFi bug though it happens rarely. *Sometimes* when you turn on WiFi on notifications toggle, it just stays that way and never finds or connects to a suitable WiFi network. When this happens, you need to restart your phone or it will drain your battery when left that way.
• Stock Samsung Home Drawer. I just hate it.

Verdict

If themed Sammy ROMs is a guilty pleasure of yours - like mine - I certainly recommend Sensation ROM by Crysis21. I can't wait once it gets Sensation 4 theming though. I expect it would be just as stunning as Sensation 3 on the current version of Sensation ROM.

For installation, you can check the original XDA thread.

Screenshots