If you really want to use the character, you just add your own collider and base input responses off that collider.
So in essence you have a filter that prevents forward motion being applied if collision on the custom component in the shape you want has occurred.
Its not that hard to do, but it isn’t optimal. A system that lets you orient the primitive used for detection in the first place is going to be far better in the end - and possibly better for replication…