Beat people up, smash things, start fires. Isn't that what it's all about?
This game is 100% mayhem. Everyone, and I mean everyone, is rioting, looting, screaming and running ALL THE TIME. Which is good cover for you, because you're pulling a few stunts of your own to thwart the bigwigs and win a few victories for the common man.
It's satisfying to punch a guy who's stealing a TV and watch it fall to the ground and shatter, 'cause well, doesn't he have something better to do? But otherwise, there's a point to the chaos. See that guy over there? He's helping hack the corporate computers so maybe you can eject the security thugs and their bosses from this part of town. But you have to protect him.
How? Smash a TV over a guard's head, then take his nightstick and beat him with it, and then take out his friends, maybe steal their guns while you're at it. Then escort the hacker to another block all while taking out security and watching out for yourself.
Occasionally some wacked-out gameshow narrator says things like "BREAK WINDOWS for BONUS SCORE!!!" in the cheeriest way, and you'll find that now for whatever reason it's OK to smash every storefront with a garbage can and every car window with a bat. In fact, it will drive up your score!
It's basically a twisted cross between, say, The Warriors and Escape From New York. You don't get it? Well, now you have a game review and some reccomended movie viewing for the weekend.