Online leaderboards are confirmed for the blue hedgehog's episodic WiiWare outing...

When Sonic the Hedgehog 4 was announced by Sega, there was an air of cautious optimism amongst fans. A promise of a return to 2D roots was enough to make the game one of the most anticipated of the year, but today we can bring you some solid good news.

Nintendo of America recently uploaded a page on its website for the game. While it doesn't contain much information, there is confirmation the game will utilise Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection for online leaderboards.

Three new screens of the WiiWare version have also been issued.

Head on over to the gallery for the full batch of screenies.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 is scheduled to hit WiiWare, PSN and XBLA this Summer. Excited or sceptical? Let us know below...