You have to play pretty much like any other (same type) tournament. (turbo, hyper, regular ...) But for the last third, things have to change depending on the amount of chips. (obviously because the goal is not to win the tourney, just to get into the top 5 in 25, 50 in 100.)
I don't agree especially with the last thing you said, you don't HAVE to finish in the top 5 (if 25 seats are being awarded). You just have to finish inside the top 25 (using your example). Also, play is quite a bit different in a satellite than any other tournament, in that you're folding
hands in spots you would ordinarily NEVER fold. The perfect example is Pocket Aces.
Say you're 9th out of 26 in chips, and at your table, you have some stacks that are shorter than you, but you also have someone who has you covered. You're under the gun and you see that you're on the stone bubble of the satellite. In a normal tournament (to go back to your first sentence that you said), you'd raise the hand and try and win a big pot. But on the bubble of a satellite, that's an autofold if your seat is guaranteed. You have absolutely nothing to gain by winning additional chips, plus, you are putting yourself in danger of being eliminated by someone who has you covered.
One of the last satellite tournaments I played was for the
pokerstars Sunday Million, and my spot was secure enough where I would fold those hands. I folded Pocket Queens in one particular spot (it was a 9-handed table).
So to suggest that you'd play these like any other type of tournament is incorrect strategy. Yes, my examples above seem extreme, but they do happen in satellite tournaments, and it's more about protecting your seat than it is to win more chips especially when you know you're seat is already won.