They left the syndicate, creating a new religion centering around technology, and began to disrupt the microchips in citizens' brains, creating chaos. You can either play the Syndicate or the Church in this game, but which ever one you choose, you will be in for a shock. Playing this game is radically different from the original Syndicate. First of all, the perspective is not the isometric view of the first game, but a lower, sharper angled view. Each player has a personal shield in addition to their health status.
Damage is absorbed by the shield, and transfers to health only when the shield is depleted.
Blue is on the left, red on the right, so you can use one or the other to any degree, but not both. And when using drugs, your health and shield recharge slower. Also different from the original game is the lack of ammo. Funny, though, how the description of the Long-Range Rifle says it fires depeleted uranium. Anyway, all weapons drain the agent's energy level when fired, some more than others.