 Empire City is built on three islands , and the player must work through main story missions on each island before being able to access the next one , though future missions may require the player to return to an earlier island . Each island is divided into a number of sectors , at the start of the game controlled by three different gangs , the Neon District <unk> controlled by Sasha and her Reaper Gang , the Warren District being controlled by Alden and the Dust Men Gang , and the Historic District being controlled by Kessler and the First Sons . The player can undertake a side mission in each sector , once certain main story requirements have been met , to free that sector from gang control , reducing or eliminating the presence of the gang in that sector . Other side missions may also unlock medical stations where Cole will re @-@ awaken should he die . Though Cole must travel on foot he eventually gains powers that allow him to grind along power cables and powered , elevated train rails and to hover for a short time . Scattered around the city are hundreds of ' Blast Shards ' which Cole can collect to increase the amount of electricity he can store . There are 32 ' Dead Drop ' satellite transmitters that help to reveal more of the back @-@ story in the game , all being narrated by John White , or being recordings of Kessler and his experiments . 
